Doncic starting foundation to teach 'joy' of hoops

DALLAS -- Mavericks defender Luka Doncic is starting his ain foundation, saying his superior extremity is to guarantee that children learning really to play hoops are doing truthful the correct measurement and wrong a affirmative environment.

The Luka Doncic Foundation will beryllium formally launched Saturday -- World Basketball Day. Doncic plans connected bringing 750 children from the Dallas area arsenic his guests to a Mavericks crippled that nighttime against the LA Clippers.

His instauration has already commissioned a study connected younker hoops successful the U.S. and the Balkan region of Europe. The study's findings, which will beryllium publically released Saturday, see that "joy, productivity and exploration are being squeezed retired of the game," the instauration said.

"Basketball has been the joyousness of my life from time one. I still consciousness the aforesaid things coming that I did erstwhile I was young. When I'm connected the court, having fun, it feels for illustration the shot is smiling backmost astatine me," Doncic said successful a merchandise distributed by the foundation. "I want young group astir the world to person the aforesaid chances to acquisition that joy.

"Sports should beryllium a spot wherever kids tin safely learn, grow, laugh, make mistakes and yet conscionable person fun," he added. "That's why I'm launching this instauration and bringing together an unthinkable squad to guideline our work."

Doncic's instauration is getting guidance from a Youth Sports Leadership Council, a group that includes his supplier Bill Duffy, Golden State Warriors prima Stephen Curry. New York Liberty prima Sabrina Ionescu, erstwhile Slovenia nationalist squad coach and existent Atlanta Hawks adjunct Igor Kokoskov, and Hall of Famers Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, Tracy McGrady and Dirk Nowitzki.

Curry said he sees parallels betwixt Doncic's instauration and things that he and his wife, Ayesha Curry, are doing, including their "Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation" that assists children and families successful the Bay Area.

"Luka continues to make a lasting effect locally, arsenic good arsenic connected a world standard helping children and families successful request from Dallas to Slovenia. ... We stock values to thief amended the wellness and well-being of children done sports and play," Curry said. "Together, we will thief create places for kids to beryllium active, get outdoors, usage their imagination and participate successful younker sports."

Doncic said his instauration will besides activity alongside FIBA, the NBA, the Basketball Federation of Slovenia, Jordan Brand, Gatorade and others to place aviator programs astir the world successful which they will instrumentality and trial the findings of his foundation's report. Doncic is giving much than $2.5 cardinal of his individual costs to his foundation.

"Luka's exceptional committedness to correspond his state is simply a awesome illustration for younger players to follow," FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said. "This valuable investigation complements FIBA's ngo to make hoops much popular, and we look guardant to moving together and utilizing this accusation to thief animate and amended the adjacent generation, some connected and disconnected the court."