‘Only regret’ – Luka Doncic at center of sportsmanship row after controversial EuroBasket ‘mistake’

Luka Doncic dropped 39 points as Slovenia fell 103-95 to a talented France team at the EuroBasket tournament in Poland.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar — who played despite an injury scare — helped his side into a 54-47 halftime lead, but the French roared back

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With France leading 101-92 at the death, Doncic shook hands with Sylvain Francisco and both sets of players appeared to be ready to call it a day.

But after turning toward his bench, Francisco drove through a wide open lane for a layup that took him to 32 points for the night.

Doncic and Slovenia were furious, and the refs stepped in after several of them confronted Francisco.

Point differential counts in EuroBasket, but Doncic claimed the basket was unnecessary.

“At the end we shook hands,” he said. “The point difference can be important, but we shook hands. I didn’t think he’d go and score again.”

French captain Guerschon Yabusele, who plays for the New York Knicks, had a different view.

“Every basket counts. Luka’s mistake of wanting to shake hands when it should be up to the offense,” he explained.

Francisco admitted that he could have acted differently.

“I said I was sorry. I actually went to shake hands and go to the layup like I said to Luka,” said the scorer. “The only thing that I really regret is just shaking hands.

“I should have told him, ‘Nah, play defense,’ because I was going for a tie.

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“We’ve got point differential, which is really important in EuroBasket, and that’s why it just clicked in my head.

“At the end of the day, I would never do that, but I take full responsibility for it, and I just gotta move forward.”

Slovenia drained a three-pointer after the controversy, so France actually ended up down a point compared to the score if they had walked off the court after the handshake.

Draymond Green backs Luka Doncic

A video of the incident quickly went viral and Team USA Olympic champion Draymond Green threw shade at France.

“This is why it was important to beat France in Paris! Go USA,” he posted on X.

“Rules are rules. if luka did it he’d be ‘hungry’ and a ‘killer’ -these are too many double standards glad he scored,” added a fan.

“Luka thought it was the NBA lmao don’t get too comfortable,” wrote a second.

France improved to 2–0 in Group D.

But despite Doncic’s prolific game, which included nine rebounds, Slovenia fell to 0-2, having dropped its opener to Poland.

Doncic looks in better shape than he was in his first season in purple and gold.

If he uses this disappointment as further fuel, his tandem with LeBron James could spell misery for the rest of the NBA.

“Boys did a good job, everyone who stepped on the pitch gave their all,” he said after the loss. “Like I said, France is a great team, unfortunately we lost, but now we have to learn something from this defeat.

“I know I lose my temper sometimes, but I try to help the team. I do it all out of good will, no one wants anything bad and I think we are getting better every day.”