Luka Doncic will not play for the Slovenian national team this summer.
Shortly after the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, Doncic announced on Instagram that he would not play in a FIBA World Cup qualifying game against Slovenia. Instead, Doncic said he will spend as much time as possible with his two daughters amid a custody battle with his ex-girlfriend.
“I love my girls more than anything and they will always come first in my life,” Doncic wrote on Instagram. “As I continue to work on joint custody of my daughters, I have been forced to make a difficult decision between playing for the Slovenian national team or spending time with my girls this summer. Unfortunately, it has been difficult for me to see them over the past eight months.
“I gave everything to represent Slovenia, but I am disappointed that I will not be able to play for my country this summer. But now, my daughters and my responsibility as a father are my priority.”
Doncic revealed in March that he had separated from his fiancée Anamaria Goertes. The two began dating in 2016, and he first proposed to her in July 2023. They welcomed their first daughter later that year, and the couple’s second child was born in Slovenia in December.
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Sources confirmed to Yahoo Sports that Doncic is in a custody battle over their two daughters, which began after Gore-Tex filed a petition seeking child support and other expenses following their separation. Doncic briefly left the Lakers to travel to Slovenia for the birth of his second daughter, but an incident was reported at the hospital and police were called. No charges were filed, and Doncic left peacefully and flew back to the United States the same day. As of mid-March, that was the last time he saw Goltz or his two daughters.
Doncic is averaging 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game this season for the Lakers, his first full season with the team. He hasn’t played in a game since April 2 and missed the entire postseason with a lingering hamstring injury. In August, Doncic signed a three-year contract extension with the Lakers worth $165 million, which includes a player option for 2028.
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Doncic spoke to reporters after the team’s loss to the Thunder on Monday night and immediately talked about his family.
