On September 8th Beijing time, the Slovenian men's basketball team beat Italy 84-77, securing a spot in the EuroBasket quarterfinals. Doncic went 11-for-19 from the field, 5-for-11 from beyond the arc, and 15-for-16 at the free-throw line, tallying 42 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, and 3 steals. After the game, he gave an interview to the press.

Speaking about the game, Doncic stated, “It was a very tough match with high defensive pressure. We knew Italy had several strengths, but in the end, we came out on top. At the start, they switched defenses on me; after I scored a few points, they began double-teaming me, yet our offense remained smooth.”

Throughout the European Championship, Doncic has been caught multiple times reprimanding his teammates. Addressing this, he honestly admitted it was for the team’s benefit. “Everyone works well together and gets along, and our team chemistry is top-notch. Normally, we sometimes have disagreements, but that’s part of sports. On the court, our only goal is to support each other. So, I have to once again give credit to my teammates.”

Regarding other team members, Doncic added, “I have always appreciated how well my teammates play; they perform excellently. In this squad, we win and lose together—there is no such thing as an ‘individual hero.’”

Despite scoring 42 points, Doncic felt his physical condition was not at its best and even briefly left the game due to discomfort. He said, “My whole body hurts now, but I will get treatment, and everything will be fine. I hope to recover quickly, and we will give our best effort.” Coach Sekulic gave a straightforward explanation for Doncic leaving for the locker room after the first quarter: “He told me he needed to go to the bathroom. Maybe there were other reasons, but that’s what he told me at the time.”

Looking ahead to the matchup against world champions Germany, Doncic expressed a firm attitude: “Since the start of this EuroBasket, we have remained confident. Now that we have advanced, that confidence remains unchanged. The next game against Germany will be difficult, but we must keep believing in ourselves.”

So far, Doncic is averaging 34.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 3.2 steals per game in this European Championship. Slovenia’s next opponent will be the heavy favorites and 2025 EuroBasket champions, Germany.