The Stage is Set for a Clash of Titans

Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo have faced off nine times in their NBA careers, and those games have never disappointed. But on Saturday, they will go head-to-head like never before. Dončić and Slovenia will take on Antetokounmpo and Greece in one of the eight semifinal games of the Olympic qualifying tournaments, with a spot in the Paris Games on the line.

A clash of titans

The last time these two megastars faced off was on February 3, when Antetokounmpo scored 48 points for Milwaukee. Dončić finished with 40 for Dallas, and the Bucks prevailed, 129-117. It was the seventh consecutive time in a Dončić vs. Antetokounmpo matchup that both played and finished with at least 27 points. Antetokounmpo has scored at least 28 in all nine of his outings against Dallas when Dončić plays.

“We’re looking forward to this,” Slovenia coach Aleksander Sekulic said. “Both teams have the same goal. Of course, the home team is the favorite. But I think we can also go into this game knowing we have chances to win. As I always say, you’ve got to show it on the court.”

A Chance to Play Against a Hero

For Dončić, this game is also a chance to play against a team coached by one of his heroes. He has called Greece coach Vasilis Spanoulis one of his idols; Dončić wears jersey No. 77 now because Spanoulis wore No. 7 as a player.

A coaching legend

“He just showed a lot of players how to play basketball,” Dončić said.

The game is set to be an intense and thrilling matchup, with two of the NBA’s biggest stars going head-to-head on the international stage. Who will come out on top? Only time will tell.

The road to Paris