The story of Slovenian Basketball Prodigy Sasa Doncic is an intriguing tale of a humble beginning soaring to greatness. Born and raised in a small town in Slovenia, the basketball savvy has a magnificent career. After retirement, his coaching genius helped a lot of young players advance their careers like his son Luka Doncic who is a giant figure in global basketball nowadays. Sasa continues to leave an indelible mark on the game.

Early Childhood

Sasa was born on 14th June 1974 in Sempeter Pri Gorici. Sempeter Pri Gorici was a town in former Yougoslavia, and present day Slovenia. His parents were Serbian who settled in present-day Slovenia.

Passion For Basketball

His father Dusan Doncic was a sports enthusiast who encouraged Sasa to play basketball. It was no surprise that passion for basketball was in his blood.

Sasa was a versatile player who played in different positions. His ability to play in different positions made him a potent power for his teams.

He had impeccable shooting ability and could shoot from a wider range and penetrate through the opposition’s defense.

Sasa’s game IQ was top-notch. His understanding of the game and team dynamics made him a standout player.

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Professional Career

Sasa Doncic played professional Basketball from 1993 to 2010. He played for different teams during his professional career.

• Sasa started his professional career with Ilirija basketball club in 1992-93.
• For the Loka Kava, but played for two seasons only.
• He played just one season with the Union Olimpija
• He played for the Pivovarna Laska from 1996 to 1999.

Sasa’s talent didn’t go unnoticed and was selected to represent the Slovenia National Team at the international level.

Playing Positions

Sasa played in different positions on the court. As a professional, he primarily played as a shooting guard and small forward. When needed, he would also assume the role of power forward.

The National Team Career

The talented Sasa was bound for glory from the very beginning. He was part of Yugoslavia’s National Cadet Team that participated in the 1991 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship in Greece.

In 2004 he was selected for the Senior Slovenian National Basketball Team at the FIBA Euro Basketball Qualification Tournament. He played in two games.

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International Career

Richly talented Sasa Donic was noticed by the basketball fraternity outside Slovenia. He played professional basketball in France and Serbia.

• Playing For ALM Evreux

Sasa Doncic played for the French club Alm Evreux. During his short stint with the club, he displayed immense skills and agility. He played as a shooting guard and Small forward.

• Sloga Telekom Srbija

In Serbia he played for Sloga Telekom Srbija. He was instrumental in the success of the clubs. Being a pro player his impact on the team was immense off the field too.

Sasa Doncic’s Achievements As a Player

Sasa has a successful career winning many laurels. The details are as;

• In 2007 and 2008 he won two Slovenian Premier A League Championships.
• Slovenian Cups is a prestigious title that Sasa won in 2004,2007, and 2008 respectively.
• Another feather in Sasa’s cap is winning the Slovenian Supercup in 2007.

Sasa has served Slovenian basketball for a long time. Given his stature and his expertise, he was named director of sport in the Slovenian Basketball Federation in January 2024.

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 Retirement of Sasa Doncic

Sasa retired from professional basketball in 2010. He was at the peak of his career when the prodigy felt he should make way for young players. To transmit his knowledge to young players he decided to assume the role of coach the same year he retired.

Coaching Career 

He seamlessly transitioned into coaching. His coaching career spanned over a decade from 2010 to 2022. Currently, he is head of the Slovenian Basketball Federation. He coached different teams including;

• Avantgard Radovljica: Basketball-savvy Doncic started his coaching career with Avantgard Radovljica, coaching for two seasons in 2010 and 2011 respectively, which helped him hone his coaching abilities.
• Skofja Loka: He remained head coach of the club from 2012 to 2013.
• Slovenian B National Team: Having a successful career at the club level earned him a place on the coaching staff of the national team. In 2015 he was named as the Assistant coach of the National Team.
• Ilirija: After a short stint with the national team he reverted to coaching the club where he started his professional career as a player. He remained head coach of the club for 4 years from 2015 to 2019.
• Sentjur: In 2019 he signed a year contract with Sentur passing on his acumen and commitment to the development of the players.
• Ilirija: After Sentjur he returned to Ilirija and remained coach of the club from 2020 to 2022.

Sasa Donic’s Achievements As a Coach

Sasa is an accomplished coach and has a significant impact on player development in Slovenia grooming new players. Many of the players trained and coached by Sasa are playing in major leagues around the world.

His son Luka Doncic is a sensational NBA who is already making ripples in the basketball world.

Personal Life Of Sasa Doncic

Sasa got married to Mirjam Poterbin who was a Slovenian model and owner of a beauty salon. The couple divorced in 2008.

Sasa’s Influence On His Son Luka Doncic

Sasa has a major role in shaping the career of his son. In an interview with Star Sports, the former Slovenian player said that Luka had a natural talent for Basketball.

Basketball was in his blood. He coached Luka in the beginning and transformed all his abilities into his son. Luka is currently one of the most famous players in the NBA. Currently, Luka’s mother is his manager.

Sasa Doncic’s contribution to the game exemplifies his resilience, adaptability, and unwavering love for the game. His achievements as a player and nurturing young players make him an inspiration for the basketball fraternity.