Saitama—NBA star Luka Doncic scored 25 points as Slovenia comfortably beat Japan 116-81 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics on Thursday.
Dallas Mavericks guard Doncic also grabbed seven rebounds and got help on scoring from Zoran Dragic, the older brother of Miami Heat player Goran, who chipped in 24 points.
Rui Hachimura did his best to keep Japan in the game with 34 points and seven rebounds.
Doncic had scored 48 points in Slovenia’s opening victory against 2004 gold medallists Argentina.
Spain can also book their place in the quarter-finals if they beat Argentina later Thursday.
Teen playmaker Cade Cunningham is seen as a likely top pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, but the team with the first choice is keeping quiet about plans for the selection.
Cunningham, a 19-year-old point guard, averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals a game for Oklahoma State last season.
That’s after helping spark a 2019 US triumph in the Under-19 Basketball World Cup.
Now he’s drawing comparisons to Slovenian star Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the NBA’s annual allocation of new talent to clubs.
“I don’t like comparing myself to players around my age,” Cunningham said. “I hear a lot of Luka comparisons, which, I can see it, but next year we’re going to be playing against each other.”
Meanwhile, the teen playmaker Cade Cunningham, the rookie hopeful being compared to Doncic, is seen as a likely top pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, but the team with the first choice is keeping quiet about plans for the selection.
Cunningham, a 19-year-old point guard, averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals a game for Oklahoma State last season.
That’s after helping spark a 2019 US triumph in the Under-19 Basketball World Cup. AFP
Now he’s drawing comparisons to Doncic ahead of the NBA’s annual allocation of new talent to clubs.
“I don’t like comparing myself to players around my age,” Cunningham said. “I hear a lot of Luka comparisons, which, I can see it, but next year we’re going to be playing against each other.”