Draymond Green's son: 'Why can't we get Luka Doncic?'

When he returned in 2022, up-and-coming guard Jordan Poole moved back to a bench role so Thompson could start. But Poole’s mere presence — and contract situation — undercut Thompson’s role on the team. The Warriors prioritized extending Poole — for four years and $140 million — and young swingman Andrew Wiggins (four years, $109 million) over Thompson and Green the summer after they won a championship, which didn’t sit well with either of the two veterans, sources said. -via ESPN / July 3, 2024

“I don’t put myself in the same category with them two. Them two, for me, are like here, out of the frame, they’re here. I think for me personally, the way I viewed my role in this is always like, ‘I’m always going to have them two’s back, I’m always going to look out for them two.’ No matter what, nobody can touch them two. They can do no wrong and I’ll go to battle for them, I’ll take the fall for them, whatever that needs to be. I’m doing that.” -via YouTube / July 3, 2024

“I wasn’t able to go as in-depth to the conversation as maybe I would have, which I think also was kind of a good thing for me. Because one thing, I think, when Klay told me, I was just able to listen. It wasn’t like, ‘Yo, we could finish like this,’ or ‘You should rethink this.’ It was just like, ‘Wow, congrats bro, I’m happy for you, that’s dope.’ Obviously to reassure that that changes nothing for us. It changes the basketball court, obviously, but the relationships are what they are. They are forever.” -via YouTube / July 3, 2024

His discomfort is still persistent and was also visible during the game vs. Croatia. “It’s normal for me to play for my country,” Doncic explained. “Obviously, a lot of times it’s going to be injuries. I just feel a big honor to play for my country. We are two million. To represent my country means everything for me.” -via EuroHoops.net / July 2, 2024

Slovenia superstar Luka Doncic expressed his appreciation to the Dallas Mavericks for allowing him to participate in the Olympic Qualifiers and represent his beloved national team once more. “I want to thank Dallas for letting me play,” Doncic said in the post-game presser after Slovenia’s blowout loss to Croatia in their opener for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament of Piraeus. “They never had a problem with this. They always know I’m going to play. It’s a big honor for me.” -via EuroHoops.net / July 2, 2024

Luka Doncic recorded a triple-double, but Slovenia had a night to forget in their FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) opener in Piraeus, Greece. Despite Doncic scoring a game-high 26 points, he struggled with his shooting, hitting only 8 of his 23 field goals (35%) and missing all nine of his three-point attempts. Slovenia lost their first OQT game 108-92 to Croatia. -via BasketNews / July 2, 2024