Nikola "LeBronDota" Popović: Motivation, Talent, and a Meeting with His Protégé

The 34-year-old Serbian esports veteran, Nikola "LeBronDota" Popović, remains a prominent figure on the Dota 2 professional scene. During the Western Europe Closed Qualifiers for the FISSURE PLAYGROUND Belgrade 2025, he shared insights into his enduring motivation and some fascinating team stories.

Staying Motivated Despite Age

Despite being at an age often considered advanced for professional players, LeBronDota continues to demonstrate his dedication and drive:

"I want to win. Dota is my life, and it gives me so many emotions. Retiring is not an option for me. If I stop playing, I will betray myself. I am inspired by people like Cristiano Ronaldo, and I want to still be competing at 40."

A Peruvian Talent in the Team

LeBronDota recounted the story of how Peruvian player DaaD joined his team. Initially recommended by Brazilian player Thiolicor during roster trials, DaaD quickly impressed everyone with his unique skill set:

"He has an incredible number of heroes at level 30 on Dota Plus. Whatever we pick, he’s mastered it. He even played Phoenix as a carry. When we chose Sven, he calmly said, ‘Yeah, I can play that.’ It turned out to be his signature hero! We were all stunned: ‘What the *** [heck]?’"

A Meeting of Teacher and Protégé

One of the highlights of the qualifiers was LeBronDota’s match against Nigma Galaxy, featuring No!ob, a player whose professional journey began under Nikola’s mentorship. In a dramatic showdown, the protégé managed to outplay his mentor with a 2:1 victory, adding a layer of personal intrigue to the competition.