Dallas Mavericks star point guard Luka Doncic reportedly strives to grow the game of youth basketball worldwide. Doncic, 25, recently shared his vision with USA TODAY as he launched the Luka Doncic Foundation, which focuses on growing the youth basketball game. Doncic’s childhood consisted of playing basketball on the outdoor basketball court in his apartment building in Ljubljana, Slovenia, or working as a ballboy in the local arena.
Doncic grew up loving basketball, and his love for basketball eventually led to a career in the NBA as a point guard. Doncic’s first taste of the NBA was six years ago when he was drafted with the third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2018 NBA Draft and subsequently traded to Dallas, Texas, in exchange for the draft rights of future Hawks star point guard Trae Young and a protected 2019 first-round pick. Read on for further details regarding Doncic’s strive to give back.
Luka Doncic on Youth Basketball
Luka Doncic eventually worked his way up to become the face of the Dallas Mavericks, but basketball has always been more than just a game to him. Unlike most other professional basketball players, Doncic grew up in a middle-class family in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and attended Real Madrid’s basketball academy in Madrid, Spain, after signing a five-year contract with Real Madrid at age 13.
Doncic explained in a recent interview with USA TODAY, “Basketball – played inside or outside, in any country or city – is where I have always found joy. I have learned that, in English, you might describe this as my “sanctuary” or my “escape.” The way I like to say it is that basketball is my “peace place.” Doncic continued, “And now, as a new father, I think a lot about my daughter and young people worldwide and their opportunities. Do they have the same access to basketball – to joy – that I had? … I am worried that they don’t.”
Luka Doncic’s Statements
Luka Doncic’s recent explanation to USA TODAY was eye-opening. Doncic could’ve easily forgotten where he came from and believed he was above everybody else in the United States, Slovenia, and the entire world. Also, Doncic used some of his salary to launch the Luka Doncic Foundation with a campaign to revitalize and grow youth sports worldwide.
Doncic told USA TODAY, “That’s why I am proud to launch the Luka Dončić Foundation. That’s why we won’t stop working to create a positive youth sports culture worldwide. We will keep starting new programs, supporting coaches and players, educating parents, building courts, and bringing fresh ideas to make the game fun and accessible for everyone.”
Doncic added, “For our first big project, we have put together the first-of-its-kind “Inside Youth Basketball” report, which we will release on Saturday, World Basketball Day. I urge you to read the report, which consulted numerous experts (including players, coaches, and parents) to identify what we are doing well in the United States and Europe where I grew up. But more importantly, identify the areas where we fall short.”
The Luka Doncic Foundation’s Goals
As the sky’s limit, Luka Doncic could do virtually anything with his salary. But Doncic’s foundation, the Luka Doncic Foundation, has been seeking to ensure that youth sports continue to be a fun, educational force in kids’ lives worldwide. The Luka Doncic Foundation’s recent report revealed the pressure for kids to be perfect in youth sports has driven seven out of ten children away by age 13 due to missing out on joy and happiness.
How did Luka Doncic respond to the universal problem of kids walking away from youth sports? Doncic told USA TODAY, “This has to change. And that’s why we developed the “Total Hoops Approach” to turn basketball’s focus back into a sport everyone can enjoy. This means advocating for coaches and parents to create more fulfilling, positive programs for kids under the guidance of a Youth Sports Leadership Council that includes many of my personal mentors, heroes, and peers.
“We are so honored and excited that Dirk Nowitzki, Stephen Curry, Sabrina Ionescu, Steve Nash, Tracy McGrady, Pau Gasol, Igor Kokoškov, and Bill Duffy have joined the council to help us with all of our projects.” Doncic added, “They all see what I see: The time is now to join forces and make basketball better for the next generation.”
Final Thoughts
Doncic’s response to USA TODAY was extensive but solid, as basketball has given him more in life than he could ever imagine. Doncic’s ultimate wish is for as many children to see the same smiling ball as he did, as he reportedly wants every child to experience the same happiness from basketball as he did.
