Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers superstar, announces he will not join the Slovenian national team this summer. He prioritizes time with daughters Gabriela, 2, and five-month-old Olivia amid a heated custody dispute with ex-fiancée Anamaria Goltes.
Challenging Family Decision
Doncic shares his choice in an Instagram post after the Lakers’ playoff exit. He was set to prepare for the FIBA World Cup starting late August but opts for family instead. ‘I love my daughters more than anything, and they will always come first in my life,’ Doncic writes. ‘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.’
He adds, ‘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.’
Custody Battle Developments
Court filings show Goltes filed for child support and attorney fees earlier this year. Doncic recently agrees to delay a hearing from mid-May to dates after June 18. He files a motion to dismiss the California petition, arguing neither Goltes nor the children reside there. He seeks resolution in Slovenia, where he initiates family law action in March.
Doncic ended the engagement that month, shortly after Olivia’s birth. In a statement, he explains, ‘I love my daughters more than anything and I’ve been doing everything I can for them to be with me in the US during the season, but that hasn’t been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement. Everything I do is for my daughters’ happiness and I will always fight to be with them and give them the best life I can.’
Doncic accuses Goltes of choosing California for its favorable child support laws, escalating tensions.
Recent Reunion
After a hamstring injury sidelined him for a month, Doncic completes rehab in Madrid, Spain. He then travels to Ljubljana, Slovenia, for a heartfelt reunion with Gabriela and Olivia. The visit marks a brief positive amid the ongoing legal fight with his childhood sweetheart.
