Luka Dončić has once again stolen the spotlight at EuroBasket 2025. In Slovenia’s Round of 16 clash with Italy, the Los Angeles Lakers guard delivered a 42-point masterpiece that not only pushed his country to the next stage but also placed him among international basketball’s all-time greats.
His latest milestone has drawn the attention of fans worldwide, and even superstar teammate LeBron James couldn’t resist reacting to the historic night.
What EuroBasket Record Did Luka Dončić Break Against Italy?
Dončić’s 42-point outing against Italy marked a major milestone in his international career. With the performance, he officially passed the late Dražen Petrović to climb to third on the EuroBasket all-time scoring list by average.
The 26-year-old now averages 23.4 points per game in the tournament, trailing only Hall of Famers Nikos Galis (31.2 ppg) and Radivoj Korać (24.8 ppg). That puts him in legendary company while proving his consistency against the toughest competition in Europe.
On Sept. 7, Dončić scored efficiently, shooting 11-for-19 from the field, 5-for-11 from 3-point range, and 15-for-16 from the free-throw line. He added 10 rebounds and three steals, leading Slovenia to an 84–77 win that sealed their place in the quarterfinals.
This is only the latest feat in his dominant run at EuroBasket 2025, where he’s averaging 34 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. Earlier in the tournament, Dončić also became just the fifth player ever to record a triple-double in EuroBasket history.
Luka Magic in full effect.#EuroBasket | #MakeYourMark pic.twitter.com/qLAhlBN3UK
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 7, 2025
Dončić’s latest outburst also kept another streak alive. He has now scored at least 25 points in six consecutive EuroBasket games, a run that places him in rare company. The only man to sustain such dominance for longer is Greek icon Nikos Galis, who set the record with 19 straight games over the course of his legendary career.
His 42-point, 10-rebound display against Italy also earned him a spot in one of the most exclusive statistical clubs of the modern era. In the last 30 years, just two other players — most notably Dirk Nowitzki — have managed to put up 40-plus points while also hauling in double-digit rebounds in a EuroBasket matchup.
On top of that, Dončić crossed another significant milestone by joining the 500-point club in EuroBasket history. He is now the fourth Slovenian ever to reach the mark, sitting just behind Goran Dragić (696 points), Ivo Daneu (515), and Jaka Lakovič (509) on the nation’s all-time scoring leaderboard.
For Slovenia, Dončić’s brilliance has been nothing short of essential. Without him, their offense struggles to find rhythm, but with him, they look like a legitimate contender for the gold medal.
LeBron James Reacts to Dončić’s Record-Breaking EuroBasket Performance
Dončić’s brilliance didn’t just light up Slovenia; it made waves across Los Angeles, too. After the game, LeBron James took to Instagram, posting a celebratory message with Dončić’s photo and the bold words: “LUKA DOMINATES AT EUROBASKET.”
LeBron James Instagram story 👀 pic.twitter.com/4yVGCie5Ez
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) September 7, 2025
The Lakers veteran may be thousands of miles away, but he has been closely monitoring his new teammate. Their partnership is one of the NBA’s most anticipated storylines heading into the 2025–26 season, and Dončić’s fiery summer form has only fueled excitement.
Once EuroBasket wraps up, Dončić will head straight to training camp to link up with James for their first full season together. For now, Dončić remains locked in on Slovenia’s campaign, aiming to replicate the nation’s magical 2017 EuroBasket title run.
Slovenia will next face defending world champions Germany in the quarterfinals on Sept. 10, a clash that promises to be one of the tournament’s most anticipated matchups.
