Project Link
https://val202.rtvslo.si/2019/04/luka-doncic-becoming-wonderboy-short-version/

Luka Dončić Becoming Wonderboy - Audio Documentary

Luka Dončić: Becoming Wonderboy is an audio documentary with a myriad of stories about how the Slovenian sensation became Europe’s hottest basketball property. How his first coach was so impressed with him he moved him two age groups up on his first day of training. Listen to how he left everything behind to join Real Madrid when he was just 13, moving across a continent to a new country with another language and another culture. Why his playfulness on court and his knack for the unexpected make him a fan favourite.
This is an abridged version of the original audio documentary Luka Dončić: Becoming Wonderboy, which was published on October 17th 2018, on the eve of Luka Dončić’s debut in the NBA. Dončić soon became a star, garnering nicknames such as Luka Magic and The Slovenian Sensation. He is the favourite for the NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

  • Franci Pavšer
    Director
    Author and producer of documentary Luka Dončić: Na poti med zvezde (Luka Doncic: Becoming a Star), which placed 3rd in the category of audio documentaries at the AIPS Annual Sports Media Awards in Europe (https://www.aipsawards.com/single-news?id=88). Author and producer of documentary Poslušaj, Playboy: Radijski prenosi Francija Pavšerja, published as a celebratory CD. Winner of the Viktor award for most perspective media personality in Slovenia, 2001. Chosen as best sports reporter in Slovenia, voted by the audience in the Moja soseska show in 2006.
  • Luka Petrič
    Director
    Author and producer of the Žoga je okrogla podcast.
  • Franci Pavšer
    Writer
    Author and producer of documentary Luka Dončić: Na poti med zvezde (Luka Doncic: Becoming a Star), which placed 3rd in the category of audio documentaries at the AIPS Annual Sports Media Awards in Europe (https://www.aipsawards.com/single-news?id=88). Author and producer of documentary Poslušaj, Playboy: Radijski prenosi Francija Pavšerja, published as a celebratory CD. Winner of the Viktor award for most perspective media personality in Slovenia, 2001. Chosen as best sports reporter in Slovenia, voted by the audience in the Moja soseska show in 2006.
  • Luka Petrič
    Writer
    Author and producer of the Žoga je okrogla podcast.
  • Franci Pavšer
    Producer
    Author and producer of documentary Luka Dončić: Na poti med zvezde (Luka Doncic: Becoming a Star), which placed 3rd in the category of audio documentaries at the AIPS Annual Sports Media Awards in Europe (https://www.aipsawards.com/single-news?id=88). Author and producer of documentary Poslušaj, Playboy: Radijski prenosi Francija Pavšerja, published as a celebratory CD. Winner of the Viktor award for most perspective media personality in Slovenia, 2001. Chosen as best sports reporter in Slovenia, voted by the audience in the Moja soseska show in 2006.
  • Luka Petrič
    Producer
    Author and producer of the Žoga je okrogla podcast.
  • Michael Manske
    Narrated by
  • Katja Černela
    Audio Editing
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Web / New Media
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 58 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 17, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    Slovenia
  • Country of Filming:
    Slovenia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    .wav
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • Radio Slovenija
    Country: Slovenia
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Franci Pavšer, Luka Petrič

Franci Pavšer is one of Slovenia's most renowned sport commentators. He is the Senior Basketball Reporter at Radio Slovenija, Slovenia's national radio broadcaster. He has attended all European Basketball Championships since 1995, all World Championships since 2006 and all Olympic Games since 2000.

Luka Petrič is the Football Editor at Radio Slovenija. He has worked there for nearly two decades and has covered all European Championships and World Cups since 2006. He also covers tennis and has reported from Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the Olympic Games.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Becoming a household name, not only at home, but also abroad, in your teens, is extraordinary. Luka Dončić did just that, debuting at 16 for Europe's most successful basketball club Real Madrid, taking Europe's premier club competition, the Euroleague, by storm at 17, becoming European Champion with Slovenia at 18, and winning MVP honours, along with another European crown with Real Madrid at 19.
Due to his enormous success, at such a young age, Dončić's achievements have been under the magnifying glass for the last few years. But what about his roots? How did this up-and-coming basketball heavyweight become a prodigy? That is the part of his story we wanted to share with the public. What he was like before he came to prominence and was still an unknown. How he played basketball on his local court at 12 and beat players twice his age. How his first coach was so impressed with him on the first day of training he immediately moved him up two age groups. How he won a bet with a senior team player, Edo Murič, who he would play with in the national team a few years down the line, hitting a half-courter to get some ice-cream. And how, even though he has matured on court as a player and has risen through the ranks like a rocket quickly becoming a key player for his team, is still a kid deep down inside.
Luka Dončić: Becoming Wonderboy shows the human side of an exceptional basketball player that seems born for greatness.