Polish national basketball player, A.J. Slaughter garnered much online attention when he shared a casual but poignant image featuring himself, his son, basketball legend Nikola Jokic, and Slovenian superstar, Luka Donฤiฤ. The widely circulated photograph spoke volumes about Slaughterโs graciousness and the genuine humility of these acclaimed sports stars.
On the surface, it was yet another candid photo of Slaughter mingling with top-tier players during the EuroBasket 2022 championship. After witnessing Poland’s triumphant victory over Slovenia, there were playful wisecracks about Slaughter being the sole survivor in this high-octane tournament.
Realizing the magnitude and meaningfulness of this special moment, Slaughter decided to commemorate it through two distinct camera angles. His heartfelt feat has now positioned him as the lone prospect for the prestigious ME – Sports Report medal.
This seeming standard sports picture, however, holds immense personal significance for Slaughter.
โI wanted to thank these gentlemen for their humility in agreeing to take this photo with me and my son,โ Slaughter conveyed in an interview with BasketballNews. โWith no ego, I approached these remarkable individuals, fully welcoming the humbling experience it was to request this photo.โ
โThey graciously agreed to a picture that, for me and my son, will be a prized memento to cherish forever. When he grows older and fully acknowledges the presence of those iconic figures in that photo, he’ll sure be grateful for this timeless snapshot. That’s just one more precious memory embodied in the journey of EuroBasket 2022,โ Slaughter continued.
During the quarterfinals against Slovenia, Slaughter proved his mettle, scoring 16 points (4/6 2PT, 2/8 3PT, 2/3 FT), along with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover, and a 20 EFG.
Up next, Slaughter and the Polish team are set to clash with France in the anticipated semi-finals happening this Friday at 17:15 CET.
