REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) – Luka Doncic may only be 17 years old, but in the past week the young superstar has spoken loudly and clearly on two issues.

First of all, he posted on Twitter that has no intentions to play for Spain internationally but has always planned to play for his native Slovenia. Doncic then maturely told reporters before the start of the Spanish season that he still has not accomplished anything of note.

For years, Spain have welcomed youngsters from other countries into their youth ranks at the club level and eventually granted them a Spanish passport. Occasionally those youngsters were adopted them into the national team ranks – thinking Serge Ibaka of Congo, Montenegro’s Nikola Mirotic and Ilimane Diop of Senegal.

Many had thought that Doncic might follow suit, especially since he had never played for Slovenia – though he was registered with FIBA Europe for but did not appear at the FIBA U16 European Championship 2014 Division B.

And social media went crazy when new Spanish federation president Jorge Garbajosa told reporters that Spain would welcome Doncic into the national team program and that it was solely the youngster’s decision.

Doncic wasted no time in responding, posting the next day on his Twitter account that he will line up in the future for Slovenia – and not Spain.

That caused a wave of relief in Slovenia as the Slovenian web portal Siol.net headlined its coverage of the announcement: "Luka Donic responds: Always Slovenia!" and Dnevnik used the headline: "Luka Doncic dispelled doubts - he wants to play for Slovenia."

Dnevnik also reported that the Slovenian basketball body KZS was "greatly pleased" with Doncic’s statement and said that KZS secretary general Radoslav Nesterovic and sporting director Matjaz Smodis had both been in Madrid in February to talk to Doncic about playing for Slovenia.

Twitter welcomed the decision as well.

The decision wasn't really a surprise considering that Doncic's father Sasa Doncic represented Yugoslavia at the 1991 European Championship for Cadets and played for Slovenia in the qualifiers for EuroBasket 2005.

The younger Doncic will likely play an important role next summer for Slovenia at FIBA EuroBasket 2017, where the Balkan side have a legitimate shot for their first ever podium finish. Slovenia are stacked with coach Igor Kokoskov able to call upon the Dragic brothers Goran and Zoran, Klemen Prepelic, Gasper Vidmar, Jaka Blazic, Edo Muric and Alen Omic.

Add to that a Luka Doncic who will have played a major role for Real Madrid this season. Doncic already wowed people when he showed up from the off-season having really grown. He’s being listed officially at 2.00m but various people are saying he’s closer to 2.04m.

Despite only turning 17 in late February, Doncic averaged 4.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 rebounds in the Liga Endesa last season. And now Madrid head coach Pablo Laso will likely give him the ball even more, especially since Sergio Rodriguez has left for the NBA and Philadelphia 76ers.

Doncic has for years impressed observers with his maturity for his age and he has already stepped up and performed superbly in the build-up to this season. He nonchalantly hit a long three-pointer at the buzzer against Fenerbahce in a pre-season friendly.

He also came off the bench in Real Madrid's Supercopa game against Barcelona and collected eight points, eight rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block and six fouls drawn for an efficiency of 18 in 24 minutes.

Doncic has also turned into an absolute fan favorite, including those playing fantasy basketball on the ACB league’s webpage. According to the ACB.com website, Doncic is the most-selected player for the more than 100,000 confirmed fantasy teams, being picked on 67,374 of them. His Madrid teammate Rudy Fernandez is next best at 45,553 while Bo McCalebb of Herbalife Gran Canaria is on 42,455 teams.

But if you ask Doncic himself, he will say he hasn't accomplished anything.

"I always think I have not done anything yet, and I have to work harder."

If all this isn't anything, I can't wait to see when he finally does feel he's accomplished something. Get ready for the year of Luka.

David Hein

FIBA

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