Luka Doncic didn’t take the court on December 4th, but he still managed to light up the entire NBA community. Hours before tip-off, the Los Angeles Lakers star became a father again, and the reaction across basketball has been nothing short of pure joy.

In a season where he’s playing MVP-level basketball, Luka pressed pause on everything, boarded a flight to Slovenia, and put family above the game. And the news that greeted fans worldwide instantly turned into one of the happiest updates of the NBA year.

The Doncic family officially grew by one more on December 4, 2025, as Luka and his fiancée Anamaria Goltes welcomed their second daughter in Ljubljana. The couple famously private when it comes to their children, haven’t revealed the baby’s name yet, but early reports confirmed a smooth delivery and a healthy newborn.

The timing makes the moment even sweeter: their first daughter, Gabriela, had just celebrated her second birthday on December 1. Luka, who often writes “Gabriela” on his sneakers, has long said fatherhood changed him more than basketball ever could. Now, that role has doubled, and fans can already feel how much it means to him.

The Lakers star immediately flew from Toronto to Slovenia, missing the December 4 matchup against the Raptors and likely the following game as well. And nobody questioned the decision. Luka, being Luka, a franchise player, a leader, and a competitor, still doesn’t outrank Luka the dad.

He and Anamaria have always operated quietly when it comes to family. They met as kids in Croatia, started dating in their teens, and got engaged on 7/7/2023, a quiet nod to his No. 77 jersey. Parenthood has been their main focus ever since, with Goltes often splitting time between Slovenia and Los Angeles to keep the family grounded.

With baby No. 2 now here, fans are celebrating right alongside them.

Fans Celebrate Luka’s Growing Family With Heartfelt Messages

“Also Luka gave High 5 to Jokic’s daughter… meant to be girl dad!” This comment immediately went viral and for good reason. Fans still remember that warm-up game in Belgrade, when Nikola Jokić’s daughter Ognjena reached out for a high-five. Luka stopped, smiled, and tapped her tiny hand, and the entire arena melted. Jokić even leaned in and kissed Luka on the cheek afterward, turning it into a wholesome MVP family moment.

Now, with Luka officially becoming a two-time girl dad, that old clip has resurfaced everywhere. Fans aren’t just celebrating the new baby; they’re celebrating how naturally Luka steps into the role.

“Luka might be like Kobe in which he’s just a girl dad.” Few comparisons hit NBA fans in the heart like this one. Kobe Bryant proudly embraced being a “girl dad,” often saying he loved raising daughters and didn’t need a son.

And now Luka, with Gabriela and a newborn daughter, is being welcomed into that same emotional space. He’s already spoken about how fatherhood changed him, how he plays for his daughter, and how her name on his sneakers keeps him grounded.

Fans see the parallels not in basketball legacy, but in the joy and pride of raising daughters. And the internet wasted no time highlighting it.

“Suns fans breathe a sigh of relief.” Of course, NBA Twitter couldn’t resist having a little fun. The moment reporters confirmed Luka would miss games for the birth, rival fans immediately jumped in, especially Suns fans relieved they wouldn’t have to face him for a night or two.

But beneath the jokes, everyone understood the real story: Luka isn’t injured or resting. He’s in Slovenia holding his newborn daughter. And even opposing fanbases softened their tone, ending most comments with: “Family first. Congrats Luka.”

“So happy for all happiness and health… congrats Luka and Ana.” The most wholesome reactions were the simplest ones. Fans have watched Luka and Anamaria grow up from childhood friends turned partners, now parents of two.

Many long-time followers posted messages celebrating the couple’s journey. Since Gabriela’s birth in 2023, Luka has talked openly about building a peaceful, family-first life, while Anamaria frequently shares thoughtful slices of motherhood, travel, and home life.

These comments don’t just celebrate the baby, they celebrate the couple’s steady, grounded love story.

The Lakers will get Luka Doncic back soon enough. But for now, the NBA world isn’t thinking about triple-doubles or standings, they’re thinking about a new dad smiling in a hospital room in Ljubljana.

From wholesome high-fives with Jokić’s daughter to Kobe-inspired “girl dad” tributes, fans have wrapped Luka and Anamaria in a global wave of love. Two daughters, a growing legacy, and a superstar who knows exactly where his priorities lie.

Basketball can wait. This week belongs to the Doncic family, and the world couldn’t be happier for them.