Luka Doncic faced some of Europe’s most difficult road environments before becoming an NBA star, spending three full EuroLeague seasons with Real Madrid.
When asked which crowd was the most intimidating, Doncic immediately thought of Crvena Zvezda.
However, his experience in Belgrade was unusual because of his own support for the Serbian club and the positive reception he often received from its fans.
“I would probably say Red Star, but not for me. They liked me there, so not for me,” Doncic said.
One of his most memorable appearances in Belgrade came in March 2018.
With Real Madrid tied against Crvena Zvezda, Doncic hit a deep step-back three-pointer with less than a second remaining to secure an 82-79 road victory.
“That was before the Final Four, so it was a nice move. It’s very hard to play in that gym.”
Because Doncic was also a Red Star supporter, he admitted he was unsure how to react after making the game-winning shot.
“I’m also a fan of that team, so I was kind of wondering whether I should celebrate or not. I didn’t really celebrate, but it was a nice moment.”
Doncic also remembered the atmosphere in Athens during Real Madrid’s 2018 playoff series against Panathinaikos.
Madrid struggled badly at the beginning of Game 1 as the home crowd at OAKA added to the pressure.
“I also played at Panathinaikos. We played in the quarterfinals and started the game down 0-20, so it was really loud out there.”
Barcelona presented a different type of challenge because of the rivalry with Real Madrid.
Asked where he received the most hostile treatment from opposing supporters, Doncic initially joked, “Probably a lot of them,” before giving a straightforward answer: “Barcelona. Rivals.”
