A.J. Slaughter, a guard for the Polish national team, recently drew significant attention for a viral photo featuring himself, his son, and basketball stars Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. In an interview, Slaughter elaborated on the importance of this picture, both personally and for his son.

Initially, the photo appeared to be a casual snapshot taken after Poland’s victory over Slovenia during EuroBasket 2022. Following this win, there were jokes circulating that Slaughter was the last man standing in the tournament, highlighting the moment’s lightheartedness. Seizing the occasion, Slaughter took the opportunity to capture the moment with two cameras, marking his status as a contender for the ME – Sports Report medal.

However, the photograph holds deeper significance for Slaughter. He expressed his gratitude to Jokic and Doncic for their humility and willingness to take the photo. “I was expressing my gratitude to these guys for their humility in taking a photo with me and my son,” Slaughter shared with BasketballNews. “Setting aside my pride, I’ve never faced such individuals. I humbly put my ego aside and asked for that picture from those gentlemen.”

He continued, “They kindly offered me and my son a photograph that will be a treasured memory for a lifetime. When he grows up, he will recognize who was in that picture. He will thank me. Just another lasting memory created at EuroBasket 2022.”

In Poland’s quarterfinal match against Slovenia, Slaughter had an impressive performance, recording 16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and a 20 EFG. Poland is set to face France in the semifinals on Friday at 17:15 CET, with hopes riding high following their recent successes.