Blaz Mesicek and Luka Doncic will make a powerful combination for years to come for the Slovenian national team. Many believe Doncic will never play for his home land but line up for Spain instead. Mesicek is confident his fellow basketball star prospect will don the Slovenian jersey – maybe as early as next summer.
Blaz Mesicek is one of Slovenia’s brightest up-and-coming talents, having played at this summer’s U20 European Championship despite only turning 18 years old in June. Mesicek is hopeful and confident that he will soon have another star prospect alongside him in Slovenian green – Luka Doncic.
Mesicek was eligible to play at the U18 European Championship but Slovenia were playing in Division B – just like the U16 Slovenian team. But the Slovenians were in Division A at the U20s and the country was facing a critical tournament in Italy.
The number of teams at the U20 competition was being cut from 20 to 16 meaning seven countries would be relegated to Division B this summer. Mesicek was superb despite playing against competition two years older than him, averaging 16.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals.
In the crucial game for 13th place, the Ljubljana native came up biggest with 27 points on 10/16 shooting to go with six rebounds and four assists to keep Slovenia in Division A.
“Most important is that we stayed in Division A. I just tried to help my team,” said Mesicek, whose performance earned him an invitation to the 2015 FIBA European U18 All-Star Game.
“I’m really excited FIBA invited me to play at this game to play with the best players in Europe,” said Mesicek, who collected seven points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal for the winning Team Red.
“I can play better, I know this. The most important thing is that I enjoyed it.”
One of the top candidates to play at the 2017 FIBA European U18 All-Star Game at EuroBasket 2017 will be his compatriot Luka Doncic – unless he’s already at EuroBasket 2017 playing for the Slovenian senior team.
Doncic is considered one of the best 16-year-old talents in the world, having played five Liga Endesa games last season for Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Doncic, who is expected to play a role in the Madrid senior side this season, has lived in the Spanish capital since 2012, when he moved there with his father as a 12-year-old.
Doncic has yet to play for Slovenia internationally and many around the game speculate that he will switch allegiances and play for Spain.
Mesicek, who has known Doncic since he was 7 years old, believes the Madrid star will play for his home land.
“I think he should play for Slovenia. He was born in Slovenia and it’s nice to play for your country and I think Luka will play for Slovenia,” Mesicek said.
“I think Luka will play next year for Slovenia.”
When asked for what Slovenian team Doncic will play next summer, Mesicek said: “20s I think, with me, I hope.”
Mesicek for his own part will be playing a while with Slovenian powers Union Olimpija, signing a five-year deal with the club starting this season.
“For me it’s important to play. I’m young. At Maccabi (Tel Aviv) I wouldn’t play. I’m young and they must win. And in Olimpija this year we have a very young team and I hope I will play some 10 minutes or we will see,” Mesicek said.
The swingman said he is looking forward to playing in the Adriatic League as well as the Eurocup.
When asked about his game, Mesicek said his penetration skills are good, but added there are a lot of areas he needed to work on.
“I have to improve my shot and defense, and my right hand.”
Mesicek is just the latest in an amazingly long line of left-handed Slovenian players including both Goran and Zoran Dragic, Jaka Klobucar, Jaka Lakovic, Uros Slokar and Beno Udrih.
Mesicek didn’t have an answer as to why so many high level Slovenian players are lefties.
“I don’t know,” he said laughing. “I don’t know what’s wrong with Slovenia.”
One thing is certain, plenty of people in the left-handed land of Slovenia will breathe a sigh of relief when Luka Doncic lines up in the country’s green colors. Something that Blaz Mesicek believes will happen soon.