MIES (Switzerland) - The stars came out to play at the start of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024 with some impressive individual performances.
Luka Doncic is such an exceptional player that even on an average day, during a difficult game where his team was losing big to Croatia, he still managed to post a rare FIBA triple-double. For 95 percent of players on the planet, this performance would be the game of their lives. He's truly one of a kind.
Goran Filipovic shot the lights out for Croatia, scoring 21 points on 9 shots, including 6 threes on 7 attempts. He crushed the Slovenian defense, punishing every mistake. It was a great night for him.
Dario Saric also recorded a triple-double in the same game as Luka Doncic, but he got the win. With 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, he earned the TCL Player of the Game honors. He was exceptional last year in the Pre-OQT, and he hasn't cooled down since.
Bruno Caboclo looked like Tim Duncan for Brazil. He was exceptional on offense and locked down former NBA All-Star Nikola Vucevic on defense. With 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks, he dominated in the paint where Brazil was expected to struggle.
Yes, there is a third player from Croatia in this selection. You couldn't get more efficient than Ivica Zubac last night: 18 points in 18 minutes, 8-of-11 shooting, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block. Not the flashiest on the court, but ruthless.
FIBA