An international reunion between Luka Doncic and Donnie Nelson has been confirmed.

Here’s the scoop: Donnie Nelson—the former Mavericks general manager who drafted Luka Dončić in 2018—is officially back in Luka’s orbit, this time on the international stage. Nelson has been appointed special adviser to the Slovenian national basketball team, marking their first professional reunion since Luka’s departure from Dallas in 2021

Key details:

The announcement came via a press conference by the Slovenian Basketball Federation (KZS) in Ljubljana, confirming Nelson’s role to support Luka and the rest of the squad at EuroBasket 2025, which kicks off on August 27 in Katowice, Poland

Nelson brings extensive international experience—as an advisor to Lithuania, China, and a Team USA coach back in 1994—alongside 24 years with the Mavericks . He expressed excitement about joining the Slovenian setup and possibly making it to the 2028 Paris Olympics

Marc Stein first tweeted the update on July 4, 2025, noting it was a full-circle moment reconnecting with Luka

Why it matters:

Nelson was instrumental in Luka’s NBA journey—pinpointing him in the draft and shaping Dallas’ Euro-centric scouting

Their reunion strengthens Slovenia’s tactical edge right before EuroBasket, where they’ll face Poland, France, Belgium, Iceland, and Israel

In short: After seven years, these two are teaming up once more—this time to chase international glory for Slovenia. Let’s see if lightning strikes again on the EuroBasket stage!