The first time they will play together in five years
When a season ends, the game does not — it simply shifts continents. Five players tied to the Dallas Mavericks will carry their national colors into FIBA World Cup qualifying matches from June 30 through July 4, each one stepping into a different kind of pressure than the NBA provides. Among them, Luka Doncic reunites with mentor Goran Dragic on Slovenia's national team for the first time in five years, a pairing that reminds us how identity in sport is never singular — a player belongs to a franchise, yes, but also to a country, a history, and a friendship.
- Luka Doncic leads Slovenia into back-to-back qualifiers against Croatia and Sweden, facing NBA rivals Bogdanovic and Zubac across the national-team divide.
- Goran Dragic's return to Slovenia after five years apart from Doncic reignites a mentorship bond that Mavericks fans have long dreamed of seeing in Dallas.
- Frank Ntilikina, fresh off a breakout defensive playoff run, steps into an expanded role for France, while Dwight Powell — 100 games played despite recent Achilles surgery — suits up for Canada.
- Davis Bertans and Boban Marjanovic find themselves on opposite sides of the Latvia-Serbia matchup, with Marjanovic poised for rare minutes after a quiet final stretch in Dallas.
- Mavericks fans facing a long offseason can stream every European qualifier on Courtside 1891 with an $11.99 event pass covering all matches through July 10.
The Mavericks' playoff run ended in May, but five players connected to the franchise are returning to competition — not in Dallas uniforms, but for their home countries in FIBA World Cup qualifying matches running June 30 through July 4.
The most anticipated storyline belongs to Luka Doncic and Slovenia. Doncic faces Croatia on June 30 and Sweden on July 3, with Croatia's roster featuring Bojan Bogdanovic and Ivica Zubac — two players he has already outmatched in recent NBA postseasons. More meaningfully, Goran Dragic is back in a Slovenia jersey for the first time in five years, reuniting with his protégé in a pairing that Mavericks fans have long hoped to see translated to the NBA. Slovenia enters the window with momentum, having already beaten both opponents in last fall's qualifying round without either star.
Frank Ntilikina represents France against Montenegro and Hungary, stepping into a larger role after earning trust in Dallas's playoff rotation. Dwight Powell plays for Canada against the Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands — a quiet testament to his durability after appearing in all 100 Mavericks games while still recovering from Achilles surgery.
Davis Bertans leads Latvia alongside his brother Dairis, filling the void left by Kristaps Porzingis, while Boban Marjanovic — recently traded from Dallas — suits up for Serbia in the same Latvia matchup. With Nikola Jokic absent from Serbia's roster, Marjanovic should see meaningful minutes after a quiet end to his time with the Mavericks.
All European qualifiers stream on Courtside 1891, with a temporary event pass available for $11.99 through July 10 — a modest price for fans eager to watch their players compete before the long offseason fully sets in.
The Mavericks' season ended in May when the Golden State Warriors eliminated them from the Western Conference finals. Now, in late June, five players connected to the franchise are stepping back onto the court—but not for Dallas. Instead, they're heading overseas to represent their home countries in FIBA World Cup qualifying matches that run from June 30 through July 4.
Luka Doncic will lead Slovenia against Croatia on June 30 and Sweden on July 3. The matchups carry particular intrigue because Doncic has already faced two of Croatia's key players in recent NBA postseasons: Bojan Bogdanovic of the Utah Jazz and Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers, both of whom he has dominated in playoff competition. More significantly, Goran Dragic—the veteran point guard who has been Doncic's mentor and close friend—is returning to Slovenia's national team for these qualifiers. It marks the first time the two will play together in five years, a reunion that has long been a fantasy for Mavericks fans hoping to see Dragic in a Dallas uniform alongside his protégé. Slovenia's national team, even without Doncic and Dragic during the first qualifying round last fall, already defeated both Croatia and Sweden, so the team enters this window with momentum.
Frank Ntilikina will represent France against Montenegro on July 1 and Hungary on July 4. The guard emerged as a key part of Dallas's defensive rotation during the playoffs this spring and should see expanded minutes with France, where he figures to be the most experienced NBA player on the qualifying roster. Dwight Powell, meanwhile, will play for Canada against the Dominican Republic on July 1 and the Virgin Islands on July 4. Powell's presence is notable given that he appeared in all 100 of the Mavericks' games this season, a remarkable feat considering he was still recovering from Achilles tendon surgery less than two years prior. He'll be one of four NBA players on Canada's roster.
Davis Bertans will lead Latvia's qualifying effort, playing alongside his brother Dairis, a former NBA player, in the absence of Kristaps Porzingis, the former Maverick who once anchored the Latvian program. Bertans faces Serbia on June 30 and Slovakia on July 3. Boban Marjanovic, who was recently traded away from Dallas and had fallen out of the rotation before the Christian Wood deal, will suit up for Serbia against Latvia on June 30 and Belgium on July 3. With two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic absent from Serbia's roster for this qualifying window, Marjanovic should see more playing time than he did in his final weeks with the Mavericks.
Two other Mavericks will sit out the qualifiers. Maxi Kleber will not play for Germany, and Josh Green will not represent Australia. All the European qualifying games will stream on Courtside 1891, FIBA's primary live-streaming platform. Viewers can purchase a temporary event pass for $11.99, which covers all matches from June 30 through July 4 and includes access to game recordings through July 10. An annual pass costs $41.99. For Mavericks fans eager to see their players in action after a long offseason, the next week offers a rare chance to watch them compete at the international level.
Citas Notables
Doncic has dominated Utah Jazz forward Bojan Bogdanovic and Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac in recent NBA postseasons— Context from Croatia's roster composition
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does it matter that these Mavericks are playing in World Cup qualifiers right now?
Because it's the first real basketball most of them will have played since May. The season ended abruptly for Dallas, and these qualifiers give them a chance to stay sharp and represent their countries before the NBA gears back up.
Goran Dragic hasn't played with Doncic in five years—why is that reunion significant?
Dragic is Doncic's mentor, someone who shaped how he thinks about the game. They've been apart despite both being available, which tells you something about the difficulty of coordinating international play with NBA careers. Now they finally get to be on the same court again.
What's the competitive level here? Are these games serious?
Absolutely. These are World Cup qualifiers—the stakes are real. Slovenia already beat Croatia and Sweden in the first round, so they're not coming in as underdogs. Doncic will face players he knows from the NBA, which adds another layer.
Why would Boban Marjanovic get more playing time in Serbia than he did in Dallas?
Because Nikola Jokic, the two-time MVP, isn't on Serbia's roster for this window. In Dallas, Boban was buried on the bench. With Jokic absent, Serbia needs him more.
How do fans actually watch this?
It's all on Courtside 1891, FIBA's streaming platform. You can buy a temporary pass for about twelve dollars that covers the whole qualifying window, or go annual for forty-two dollars.
Does playing internationally help these players for the NBA season ahead?
It keeps them game-ready and builds chemistry with their national teammates. For someone like Frank Ntilikina, who emerged late in the Mavericks' playoff run, it's a chance to prove he belongs in a larger role.