Luka Dončić will be sitting out international basketball this summer, with the Lakers star prioritizing family over country during a deeply personal chapter in his life.
Shortly after Los Angeles was eliminated from the playoffs by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, Dončić took to Instagram to announce he won't join the Slovenian national team for FIBA World Cup qualifying. Instead, he plans to spend as much time as possible with his two daughters amid an ongoing custody battle with his former longtime girlfriend, Anamaria Goltez.
"I love my daughters more than anything, and they will always come first in my life," Dončić wrote. "As I continue working toward joint custody of my daughters, I have been forced to make a difficult decision between traveling and playing for the Slovenian national team and being with my daughters this summer. Unfortunately, it has been made extremely difficult for me to see them over the past eight months."
Dončić added that representing Slovenia has always been a point of pride, but his responsibilities as a father now take precedence. "I have given everything to representing Slovenia and I am disappointed that I will not be able to play for my country this summer. But right now, my daughters and my responsibilities as a father are my priority."
The 27-year-old revealed in March that he and Goltez had separated after dating since 2016. Dončić proposed in July 2023, and the couple welcomed their first daughter later that year, followed by a second child born in Slovenia this past December. According to sources who confirmed details to Yahoo Sports, Goltez filed a petition seeking child support and other fees after the split, sparking a custody dispute.
Dončić briefly stepped away from the Lakers to attend the birth of his second daughter, but the visit took a troubling turn. Reports indicate police were called to the hospital following an incident, though no charges were filed and Dončić left peacefully, flying back to the United States that same day. As of mid-March, that marked the last time he had seen Goltez or either of his daughters.
On the court, Dončić delivered another stellar season for the Lakers, averaging 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds. But with the playoffs now in the rearview mirror and a lingering hamstring injury behind him, his focus has shifted entirely to the game that matters most: being there for his kids.