This weekend, NBA fans will be watching Team USA and Team Slovenia face off in a warm-up game before the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Viewers will be well aware of all the Team USA stars and they will also be familiar with the leader of Team Slovenia: Luka Doncic.
The Dallas Mavericks star is hoping to make his country proud and push his national team as far as it can go in the World Cup.
Team USA will try hard to get in his way.
Even though they are playing against each other, Doncic and Brooklyn Nets star Mikal Bridges recently caught up.
An image from Jim Ice and ClutchPoints, via Hoop Central, shows the two players having a casual, friendly chat.
It is wild to think that in just a few days, these two will be competitors.
Luka Doncic x Mikal Bridges. 🔥
(via @Jim_ICE, h/t @ClutchPoints) pic.twitter.com/WOdPF1rqrE
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) August 11, 2023
The Slovenian team has several strong players on the roster but it’s undeniable that Doncic is their most important asset.
That’s because Doncic isn’t just the best player on Team Slovenia, but also one of the best basketball players in the entire world.
In 2022-23, Doncic averaged 32.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8 assists.
What can he do for his team at the World Cup?
Doncic will be playing his heart out but he will have multiple friends-turned-opponents on Team USA blocking him.
Bridges is just one of the athletes who will be looking to slow Doncic down.
He just had a very impressive season, especially after he moved to the Nets at the trade deadline.
Since moving to Brooklyn, Bridges produced 26.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.
Will he be one of the breakout stars who is able to minimize Doncic and the rest of Team Slovenia?
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