So, why were the Los Angeles Lakers’ players in Slovenia? Two reasons. For team bonding and for new teammates to train together in a different environment ahead of the season. But this trip wasn’t without its leisure. Among the sightseeing, golfing, and impromptu fan meet-and-greets, the LA squad’s mysterious late-night (off-court) activity is turning heads across the hoops world.

Following a morning practice session at the Stožice Arena and a rainy afternoon tour of Ljubljana Castle, Luka Doncic treated his Lakers teammates to an exclusive night out. But the Friday evening affair quickly made headlines because its private guest list included a 2014 Playboy Magazine cover model.

The Lakers were spotted hanging out at a local restaurant that had turned into a nightclub for the night. Joining them was Anja Jenko, a 34-year-old model and influencer who’s well known for landing the cover of Playboy Magazine.

Jenko currently has over 123,000 followers on Instagram. The news, which migrated from local Slovenian outlet Nedeljski dnevnik to American sports media, sparked immediate fan curiosity. Yet, details from the ground paint a picture of tight security and team isolation from the general public that night.

According to reporting from local portal 24ur, strict privacy protocols were enforced at the venue. While the club remained technically open to invited guests, patrons were required to place stickers over their phone cameras to prevent any photos or videos from leaking. Jenko wasn’t the only celebrity guest, though.

The Lakers bash guest list also featured Slovenian athletes like Tine Urnaut, Edo Murić, and Jaka Blažić, alongside musicians Magnifico and Bojan Cvjetićanin. Balkan popstar Dinna was also reportedly present for a performance.

Now, there is no indication that Doncic or any specific LA player interacted directly with Anja Jenko during the party, which lasted until roughly 2:00 AM. Regional reports, later corroborated by the California Post, emphasize that Doncic and his Lakers teammates largely kept to themselves in a private section.

The party night also featured a surprise live performance of the traditional song “Đurđevdan” by Cvjetićanin at Dončić’s personal request.

This exclusive nightclub event was just one stop on a packed Slovenian itinerary hosted by Doncic, who reportedly spent half a million dollars to charter a plane for a 16-man roster!

A deep dive into Luka Doncic’s Slovenian retreat with his Lakers teammates

Before the late-night gathering, the Lakers players spent their day engaging with local fans. After practice at Stožice, players signed autographs in the facility’s garage, where kids went crazy over Bronny James, telling him how much they love his dad. Bronny played along, even offering a rather cryptic response about LeBron’s Philadelphia 76ers move, saying, “It’s whatever, it’s my dad.”

Some of those young fans reportedly waited in the rain to meet their Lakers idols, and Doncic and his NBA teammates were indulgent with autographs and pictures wherever possible. One of the kids accidentally handed Adou Thiero the wrong picture to sign, prompting him to tell the kid, “That’s Bronny, that’s not even me!”

They later took a scenic boat ride along the Ljubljanica River, a trip marked by a viral moment when a fan leaped into the canal to retrieve a jersey mis-tossed by forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who wasn’t granted any mercy by Lakers Nation.

The Lakers squad also visited Ljubljana Castle, where fans also seemed to trail them. Then, the morning after the party, the roster shifted its focus to relaxation and team bonding in the scenic city of Bled. The players traded the Ljubljana nightlife for outdoor recreation, spending Saturday rowing across Lake Bled, playing golf, and taking in the local sights, greeted by enthusiastic crowds.

Amid a demanding summer and a headline-making physical transformation, Luka Doncic has been navigating a highly publicized child support and legal dispute with his ex-fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, over their two daughters, Gabriela and Olivia. While there isn’t any update on it yet, Doncic continues working on himself, maintaining a streak of shedding weight after losing over 20 pounds last offseason.

Just yesterday, Doncic posted quite a large offseason carousel of his Slovenia trip with his teammates. “Teamship. 🇸🇮🤝,” he captioned it. Austin Reaves, however, drew everyone’s attention to the second slide where Doncic successfully beat him in a game of sheer reflexes. He jokingly called the whole thing “AI🤦🏻‍♂️.”

Reaves has eagerly waited for this trip with Doncic and earlier declared that he was “gonna kick his as*” in golf. He also acknowledged his new LA teammates Walker Kessler, Quinten Grimes, Collin Sexton, among others, saying this offseason trip will “just be good to be around them, get to know one another off the court, and just build that chemistry there.”

Meanwhile, Reaves also admitted that his Lakers pal Doncic is “a hero” after witnessing the craze firsthand in his hometown.

Off-court buzz aside, Doncic and the boys seem locked in on what matters on the basketball side of things. Despite the media swirl around the nightout event, they’re staying focused. As the team wraps up its European trip and sets its sights on training camp, the excursion looks like it did exactly what it was supposed to: bring the guys closer together.