Dallas Mavericks all-star point guard Luka Donic recently announced a partnership with 2K Foundations to rebuild basketball courts in his hometown of Ljubljana, Slovenia.

“This is a very exciting day for me,” Luka Doncic said. “I have great memories growing up in Ljubljana. These are my childhood courts where I learned and practiced the game. It’s an honor to be able to give back to my city and to my country that gave me so much and that I love.  The opportunity for kids to play on the same courts and pursue the same dreams I had is something I am excited about.”

Alongside NBA2K, Luka Doncic was able to refurbish the courts where he grew up playing basketball and add new seating and lighting. 

Last week, many fans attended the official opening event of the new courts. The young supporters got to be the first ones to play on the court, and Luke was there to present it.

This event was all made possible by 2K Foundations, a program that focuses on elevating communities worldwide by providing resources and experiences. The organization has invested in more than 40 initiatives to provide access to sports, career, and learning opportunities.

“Foundations plays a very important role for 2K and our sports titles,” said David Ismailer, president of 2K. “We’re incredibly proud of the contributions made to communities, from court refurbishments to STEM programming. We’re honored to have created a program that plays a part in giving some of the world’s biggest athletes and talents, such as Luka, the chance to further connect with the communities that mean so much to them.”

Luka Doncic, the cover athlete of NBA 2K22, was able to feature his own artwork on the court, working with a Slovenian graphic designer Nejc Prah. Luka’s new logo integrates Luka’s initials, his jersey number 77, and arrows with negative space revealing an ‘S’ for his home country.

The people of Ljubljana are grateful for Luka’s contributions and active involvement. Ljubljana’s mayor spoke on behalf of the town in thanking the NBA star.

“Having Luka return to his hometown and dedicate these courts to his childhood town is such an honor,” said Zoran Janković, Ljubljana’s mayor. “He continues to represent Slovenia globally, and we’re proud of what he has done for our country, not only at the Olympics but his efforts in the NBA. He loves Ljubljana, and the city and country love him.”

This generous act is one of many by the young 22-year-old. Luka Doncic was the Mavericks’ nominee for March’s NBA Cares Community Assist Award for his work during the 2020-21 season.

In February, he helped Texans get through the historic winter snowstorm with numerous donations and provided shoes and other necessities to healthcare workers battling the Coronavirus on the front line.

Luka Doncic continues to make great strides not only in the game of basketball but through his community and beyond. The young NBA star is the face of the next generation as a player and a person, using his platform to impact the world positively.

Following a controversial split decision win, the brewing rivalry between creator-turned-boxer Jake Paul and former UFC champion Tyron Woodley seems to be far from over. 

Post-fight antics exploded at both the fighter’s subsequent interviews as well as the press conference. 

Tyron Woodley, the 39-year-old fighter, alleged that he won the fight and was looking for an immediate rematch vs. the 24-year-old upcoming Jake Paul. 

After the 8 round bout, many were disappointed with the outcome, especially considering the amount of hype that went into the fight’s buildup. 

Jake Paul, the favorite going in, showed poise, patience, and good movement. Woodley, on the other hand, merely poked at Paul with a lack of aggression. He would later confirm that his previous fights, ones which ended in losses due to unchecked recklessness offensively, played a factor in his strategy of playing it safe.

The most memorable moment came when Tyron Woodley nearly ended the bout in the fourth round after landing a perfectly placed right hand. The shot sent Paul onto the ropes and became Woodley’s argument for why he should get a rematch. 

To avid fight fans, Woodley’s ring presence didn’t live up to the caliber that it should’ve. Both on the scale of a boxer and a UFC champion, the underperformance was lackluster and may have even taken a bit of credibility away from Jake Paul’s victory.  

Still, there’s no denying that this fight’s intensity was stronger than all of Paul’s previous bouts. Not only was Woodley obviously trying to win (at least to an extent greater than Ben Askren did), but the fight going 8 rounds showed that Jake Paul’s cardio is sufficient actually to fight in real, competitive matchups. 

After Tyron Woodley’s post-fight callout, many expect a rematch to arrive sometime soon. Though, Paul would later mention that he may be taking time off from getting into the ring. 

The candidates for his next bout are seemingly set between rising cruiserweight Tommy Fury and a rematch with Tyron Woodley. More details are likely to be released soon.

Jake Paul faces his next opponent on August 29th in Tyron Woodley. Jake Paul is coming off his stunning knockout of Ben Askren. Meanwhile, Tryon Woodley is entering the ring for the first time as a boxer after spending 8 years in the UFC and being a 4x defending WelterWeight champion. 

Paul is on a mission to disprove his critics who believe that he isn’t a “real” boxer. His ultimate goal is to go head to head with the controversial Conor McGregor. Woodley, on the other hand, is trying to shut down the renaissance of celebrity boxing. He is also trying to reclaim his name of being an elite fighter after 4 defeats in a row. 

The lead-up to the fight has been riddled with drama. Many critics of Paul, such as Dana White (the CEO of the UFC), have stated that Woodley is not a boxer. They have also said Woodley is washed up and is generally smaller than Paul. In other words, if Paul is to win, he should not be considered a “real boxer.” The two have verbalized that the loser would get a tattoo saying I love (the winner’s name). 

Woodley will be Paul’s most challenging opponent yet. He has a record of 19-7-1. Unlike Paul’s previous opponents, Woodley had boxed before, which was crucial during his UFC career.  

Paul’s training routine has been relatively the same as it has helped him win his last three matches. He has been known to come out flying, but that may not be the case this time around. Woodley has a killer punch, and Paul should keep him an arm’s length away unless Woodley opens up. 

If we get down to the details, Jake Paul has the upper hand. Paul is 24 years old, while Tyron Woodley is 39 years old. Paul is 6’1, while Woodley is only 5’9. Finally, Paul will be weighing in at 190 lbs, while Woodley has gone up to 180 lbs. All of this being said puts Paul at an advantage. Woodley is entering a new sport and the heaviest he has ever been. 

My prediction: Tyron Woodley by TKO in 3 rounds. 

I will not discount Jake Paul’s ability to go toe to toe with Tyron Woodley, but I do not believe he has the experience to go the length. Both will come out flying for the most part, and I think Jake Paul will land the first blow. However, Jake Paul will be gassed out within 3 rounds, and it will be a night.