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Luka Doncic’s Olympic debut was the most effective within the historical past of the Summer time Video games.
In the course of the contest, the 22-year-old Mavericks’ star put up a whopping 48 factors for his native Slovenia, which is making its first Olympic look. That mark tied him for the second-most factors in an Olympic sport with Australian Ed Palubinskas, who scored 48 on the 1976 Montreal Video games.
Doncic was on tempo to interrupt the document of 55 set by Brazil’s Oscar Schmidt within the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Nonetheless, he checked out with 4:35 remaining on the clock in Slovenia’s 118-100 win.
“I do not care about data,” Doncic stated of his efficiency. “We bought a win and that is what we got here right here for.”
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Certainly, Slovenia bought an emphatic victory and recorded the very best level whole of the 2021 Olympics to this point. As Argentina’s coach Sergio Hernandez admitted, the Argentine squad was helpless to cease Doncic’s advances.
“We tried all the things that we’d have tried in opposition to a standard participant,” Hernandez stated, per ESPN. “However he is not a standard participant.”
Luis Scola additionally spoke effectively of Doncic, saying the 22-year-old was “unbelievable” and “too good” for Argentina to cease. And Scola would know. The 41-year-old is taking part in in his record-tying fifth Olympic Video games with Argentina.
Hernandez agreed with Scola’s sentiments and took it a step additional. He believes Doncic has already established himself as the highest participant on the earth.
“For me, I stated this two years in the past: He’s one of the best participant on the earth, together with the NBA,” Hernandez stated. “And if there was any doubt in my thoughts, there isn’t a doubt anymore. He’s one of the best participant on the earth.”
Doncic’s subsequent probability to shine will come in opposition to the host nation, Japan, which possesses two NBA gamers, Rui Hachimura (Wizards) and Yuta Watanabe (Raptors). The 2 nations are scheduled for a 12:40 a.m. ET tilt on Thursday, July 29.
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