EuroBasket has already delivered drama, and Slovenia’s matchup with France might have produced probably the most disrespectful second but involving Luka Doncic.
The sport ended with an uncommon scene involving Doncic and French guard Sylvain Francisco, who scored a last-second layup after Doncic dapped him up.
With France main comfortably, Francisco appeared to dribble the clock out.
Doncic approached for a handshake, which was accepted, and Slovenia’s gamers began strolling off the ground. That’s when Francisco drove to the ring for an uncontested layup, sparking anger from Doncic and his teammates.
Doncic voiced his frustration afterward, through BasketNews he advised Slovenian media.
“On the finish we shook palms,” Luka stated. “The purpose distinction could be necessary, however we shook palms. I didn’t suppose he’d go and rating once more.”
The context makes the scenario sophisticated. EuroBasket makes use of level differential as a key tiebreaker, so each basket issues in group play. Francisco later admitted his mistake and issued an apology on to Doncic.
“I stated I used to be sorry,” Francisco defined to reporters. “I really went to shake palms and go to the layup like I stated to Luka. The one factor that I actually remorse is simply shaking palms — I ought to have advised him, ‘Nah, play protection,’ as a result of I used to be going for a tie.
“You recognize, we’ve received level differential, which is basically necessary in EuroBasket, and that’s why it simply clicked in my head. On the finish of the day, I might by no means do this, however I take full duty for it, and I simply gotta transfer ahead.”
Whereas the incident precipitated stress, it additionally highlighted the depth of worldwide competitors and the satisfaction NBA stars like Doncic convey when representing their international locations. Slovenia is 1-2 in group play, however Doncic has already made historical past with a uncommon EuroBasket triple-double and have become the youngest participant since Tony Parker to surpass 400 profession factors within the match.
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