Doncic picks up TISSOT MVP award to add to monumental triumph

KAUNAS (Lithuania) - After leading Slovenia to the Olympics for the first time, Luka Doncic left little doubt who was the most effective - and fearer - player on the court at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas.

So it came as no surprise to any of those in attendance  when he was  crowned the TISSOT MVP of the event. 

The 22-year-old saved his best performance of the tournament for the Final with a triple-double in his side's 96-85 triumph over the hosts, Lithuania to cap a return to the national team for the first time since winning FIBA EuroBasket 2017.

Doncic finished with 31 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists to boost his tournament averages to 21.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 11.3 assists per game as the runaway MVP in Kaunas with a string of high-level performances.

"We have an amazing team," Doncic said post-game. "The chemistry is incredible and everyone played their heart out.  We are making history for our country. That was our goal - the first time for our country and we can just go up from here.

"Basketball means a lot to me, almost everything. I think I’ve already achieved some things at 22, but from here, it’s only upwards and I hope to achieve more."

The Dallas Mavericks guard recorded three consecutive games with at least 10 assists with double-doubles coming in wins over Poland and Venezuela earlier in the week.

Doncic will no doubt be one of the headline stars at the Olympics and will arrive in Tokyo full of confidence off the back of a TISSOT MVP-winning tournament.

FIBA