Luka Doncic and Slovenia went through the ultimate test in their 2025 EuroBasket campaign as they faced the FIBA World champions, Germany, in the quarterfinals.Slovenia lived the underdog dream this year. The team started its campaign in the worst way possible, losing its first two games in the group stage. The losses placed the Slovenians in a do-or-die situation as they needed to win their last three games to qualify for the Round of 16.The basketball gods smiled on Doncic as the LA Lakers star led his team to a third-place finish in the group stage. He also helped his team secure an 84-77 win over Italy in the following round.Slovenia faced one of the giants of international basketball on Wednesday, and Doncic had to show up for his country. Germany started the first quarter strong, battling Slovenia in every possession.Doncic and Co. fought back hard and turned things around, finishing the period with a 32-21 lead. The superstar guard had 10 points, three rebounds and three assists. Slovenia started the second quarter looking to maintain its advantage.However, the Germans caught up late in the quarter. Doncic ended the second period with 22 points, four rebounds and three asssists, pushing Slovenia to a 51-45 halftime lead.The third quarter saw the same high intensity from both teams as they gave it their all to gain an upper hand. Slovenia entered the fourth quarter with a four-point lead 74-70.The final quarter was a different story as the Germans were more agressive, while the Slovenians faded Ultimately, the reigning FIBA World Cup champions walked away with a 99-91 victory.Doncic finished with another masterpiece as he recorded 39 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.Luka Doncic earns EuroBasket best defender nomination to shut down the criticsLuka Doncic has often been criticized for his lackluster defensive prowess. The Lakers superstar entered the NBA in 2018 and established himself as an offensive juggernaut. However, his defense has been a big question mark in his career.Additionally, Doncic's conditioning became a big topic among fans and analysts. The Mavericks traded him to the Lakers midway through last season. He went through a transformation during the summer and lost significant weight.Doncic showcased the benefits of his transformation in the EuroBasket tournament. He looked sharp and was a menace defensively.Luka Doncic averaged 3.2 steals per game, leading to his nomination for the tournament's best defender award.