Slovenia is where Luka’s step-back was born. He inherited basketball genes from his father Saša Dončić, a former Slovenian basketball player and coach.
DALLAS — Slovenians, understandably, are obsessed with Luka Dončić, as the Ljubljana-born native steers the Dallas Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals championship series.
Slovenia is seven hours ahead of Dallas, which means scheduled evening games begin in the middle of the night there.
But a time difference is not stopping die-hard fans as thousands will stay up late or wake up early to watch the action live. And they will do so again as the Mavs take on the Boston Celtics on Thursday night.
But first…
Where in the world is Slovenia?
If you’re having trouble finding it on a map, let us help you out. The country is located in southern Central Europe, bordered by Croatia, Austria and Italy.
More than 2.1 million people call Slovenia home. Luka Dončić spent his childhood in Ljubljana where he was born.
Did you know that Slovenia is one of the most forested countries in Europe?
Its capital, Ljubljana, was awarded the title of European Green Capital in 2016. Slovenia is also the world’s first country to meet the Green Destinations Criteria in order to be declared a green destination.
Native flag
The national flag of Slovenia features three horizontal bands of white, blue and red with the coat of arms of Slovenia in the upper left corner.
Slovenia proclaimed its independence on June 25, 1991, but had to fight against the Yugoslav army to establish its sovereignty.
Slovenia has a sporting heart
It prides itself as one of the countries producing top-notch athletes who win medals at the highest level.
Since sports hold a special place in Slovenia, Sept. 23 is a dedicated national holiday called “Slovenian Sports Day.”
Slovenia is where Luka’s step-back was born. He inherited basketball genes from his father Saša Dončić, a former Slovenian basketball player and coach.
In 2022, the Mavs dedicated two basketball courts in Celje, Slovenia to pay homage to one of the best players in the game.
Besides Luka, Slovenia has several other world-class athletes who excel in their respective sports.
- Tadej Pogačar and Primoz Roglic: Olympic cyclists
- Alenka Artnik: Multiple world record holder in freediving
- Ema Kozin: Current world champion in the WBA and WBC super-welterweight
- Goran Dragić: Former NBA player
- Anze Kopitar: NHL star and captain of the L.A. Kings
- Jan Oblak: Goalkeeper for the Atlético Madrid club and one of the best goalkeepers in the world
Slovenian athletes have won 19 gold, 26 silver and 31 bronze medals at the Olympics in individual sports.
Slovenian cuisine
The tastes of Slovenia are vast depending on which region you visit. Slovenia has no less than 170 typical dishes!
Our WFAA crew headed to the capitol to indulge in Slovenian cuisine. Here’s what they tried:
Sopsha Salad: It features cucumbers, green peppers tomatoes and white cheese.
Cuftice: It’s a meatball dish with mashed potatoes covered in gravy.
Tufahina: This sweet treat is a cooked apple with walnuts stuffed with cream and topped with whipped cream.
Things to do in Slovenia
Everywhere you look in Slovenia, you will be surrounded by the color green. Almost 60% of the country is covered in forest and there are more than 13,000 karst caves.
Some of the most popular destinations within Slovenia include the caves at Škocjan (a World Heritage Site), Triglav National Park, Lake Bled, hot springs and mineral water resorts in the Alps and along the Adriatic Sea, and the medieval Castle of Ljubljana.