Lakers Luka Doncic wont play for Slovenia this…
The next time Luka Doncic is seen taking part in in a basketball sport may have to wait until the autumn – not the summer time like is customary for the Lakers celebrity.
Less than half-hour after the Lakers 2025-26 season ended with their Game 4 loss to the Thunder in the second spherical of the playoffs, Doncic announced on his Instagram story that he received’t be taking part in for the Slovenian national group this summer time so he can focus on spending time with his daughters.
As he battles for custody of his two daughters, Luka Doncic revealed that he received’t signify Slovenia this summer time. Getty Images
Doncic, who made the announcement in English and Slovenian, is in the midst of a custody battle for his two daughters (Gabriela, 3 years previous, and Olivia, 5 months previous) with his ex-fianceé Anamaria Goltes.
The Lakers star announced in March that he and Goltes had separated.
Goltes filed a petition for youngster assist from Doncic in Los Angeles in the same month. Doncic filed an order to dismiss the petition later in March. His famed attorney, Laura Wasser, cited none of the events are residents of California, and that Doncic beforehand filed a “Family Law action” in February in Slovenia to deal with the state of affairs.
The court postponed the listening to date for the kid custody battle until Aug. 14.
“I love my daughters more than anything, and they will alway come first in my life,” Doncic wrote in a assertion. “As I continue working toward joint custody of my daughters, I have been forced to make a difficult deciison between traveling and playing for the Slovenian national team and being with my daughters this summers. Unfortunately, it has been made extremely difficult for me to see them over the past eight months.”
Per Luka Doncic Instagram.
This summer time would be the first time since 2020 – when the Olympics had been postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic – that Doncic doesn’t play for Slovenia.
The summer time of 2019, which was after his rookie season with the Mavericks, was the last time the Slovenian national group performed without Doncic.
He made his Slovenian national group debut during EuroBasket 2017, in which Slovenia received its first purpose medal after going undefeated in the event.
“I have given everything to representing Slovenia and I am disappointed that I will not be able to play for my country this summer,” Doncic said. “But right now, my daughters and my responsibilities as a father are my priority.”
When talking with media following Monday’s season-ending loss, Doncic revealed that he was never close to returning to the court. EPA
Doncic hasn’t performed since struggling a left hamstring pressure on April 2, sidelining him for the ultimate 5 video games of the Lakers’ common season, the six-game first spherical victory over the Rockets and the four-game sweep to the Thunder.
Originally, the injury was anticipated to have a recovery timeline of 4 to six weeks, but Doncic said he was told eight weeks.
Thursday will mark six weeks since the injury occurred.
“I know some people wanted me back, but obviously I wasn’t close to clearing,” Doncic said. “There was some stuff in the media that went out that wasn’t true. [None] of those people saw my MRIs or nothing, so it wasn’t really true. If I could be out there, I would be, 100%.”
Doncic has began lifting weights, operating and taking pictures as half of his return-to-the-court course of.
He expects to be cleared for contact work in the “next week or two, probably.”
“First of all, I want to spend time with my daughters, and that’s probably the only thing that’s on my mind right now,” Doncic responded when requested what an superb summer time seems like for him. “And second of all, obviously, get the work in and come back ready for the [2026-27] season.”
Stay up to date with the latest trending topics! Visit our web site daily for the freshest Sports news and content, fastidiously curated to keep you informed.
