Luka Doncic said he was “the happiest man in the world” after Anamaria Goltes gave birth to their first daughter, Gabriela, in 2023. It made that year even more special after the couple announced their engagement. Doncic and Goltes then slowly became the ideal NBA couple, maintaining just the right balance of what their fans should know about their lives on the gram. They shielded their child from the internet, but the odd vacation snapshot let everybody in on a little secret: Doncic was living his best life. But after welcoming Olivia in December 2025, reality appears to have taken an unfortunate turn.

In March 2026, Doncic announced that he and Goltes had decided to end their relationship. The telling factor in that statement, though, was the Los Angeles Lakers star taking an important call for his children, not himself. “Everything I do is for my daughters’ happiness,” Doncic said. He really meant what he said because the 27-year-old made another major announcement last night, and this one has consequences on his national team career.

“I love my daughters more than anything and they will always come first in my life,” Doncic wrote on social media. “I have been forced to make a difficult decision between travelling and playing for the Slovenian national team and being with my daughters this summer. Unfortunately, it has been extremely difficult for me to see them over the past eight months. 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.”

Doncic maintained a similar tone during his exit interview after the Thunder swept the Lakers. “First of all, I want to spend time with my daughters, and that’s probably the only thing on my mind right now,” said the Lakers talisman. To which the national team replied in an official statement, “Some decisions are hard but right. We understand Luka’s decision, respect it, and support it. Luka, we wish you summer, that will be only yours.”

Representing Slovenia means everything to Doncic. He’s played every possible tournament, from its qualifying rounds to the finals. The Slovenian star had completely drained himself to help his country qualify for the last Olympics in Paris, only for it to go in vain. The expectation for the summer games in 2028 would’ve been to at least make it to the tournament for the first time since 2020. Yet it brings the Lakers guard to make an unprecedented choice amid a topsy-turvy last few months with Goltes that required legal intervention.

Doncic is currently in a custody battle over his daughters with his former partner. Doncic’s elder daughter spent only three months with him in California last spring. And since traveling to Slovenia for the birth of his second daughter, Olivia, late last year, Doncic hasn’t spent ample time with them. It was around then that Doncic posted a photo of Olivia in a pink outfit, with a white heart emoji over her face, and Goltes shared a similar snap of the newborn a few days later.

That trip, though, reportedly ended with Goltes calling the cops to the hospital, details of which only surfaced months later when the couple made their split official. No charges were filed at the time, and the Lakers star quietly flew back the same day to continue playing in LA. The father of two reportedly reunited with his kids for only a few days while in Europe receiving treatment for a hamstring injury in April. But Donic and Goltes remain at odds after Goltes filed a petition seeking child support and attorney’s fees. The Laker subtly jabbed back when he said “no idea” that such a petition even existed…

Doncic reportedly even filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. He argued that the lawsuit is invalid because it was filed in the United States, while the model resides in Slovenia. In fact, sources close to the situation claimed that Doncic continues to pay for his children’s expenses “without limitation.” According to Marca, the Slovenian star has hired the famous lawyer Laura Wasser, popularly known as ‘Disso Queen’ (The Divorce Queen), to handle his legal battle. She has represented clients such as Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Garner, and Johnny Depp.

Meanwhile, Goltes has cleared her social media accounts, removing any trace of Doncic. She also participated in the “10-year challenge” on Instagram, sharing 38 photos, some of which were of her and the rest were with her kids. “2016–2026. A decade of good times, hard lessons, and everything in between. Plenty of ups and downs, but I wouldn’t change a single moment ❤️” Goltes, 27, wrote in her “#part1” post in January.

The two of them first met when they were 12 at the seaside in Croatia. “Fun fact: We still have the same group of friends we had at that time,” Doncic once told The New York Post. “You keep the real ones, am I right?” Goltes told Cosmopolitan SI that she believed that when someone can be happy alone, it makes them a better friend/partner. Doncic appeared to be that missing piece for her right until 2026.

Coming back to Doncic’s latest decision, while driven by family, also aligns with a measured approach to his ongoing physical recovery. The original 4-to-8 week timeline for the hamstring injury caused him to miss the Lakers’ series against OKC. Even though the hamstring itself is no longer a daily limitation, skipping high-intensity national hoops this summer allows him to continue targeted rehab, strength conditioning, and a gradual ramp-up, reducing the risk of reinjury before the demanding 2026-27 NBA season.

Doncic’s choice echoes situations other NBA stars have faced when family priorities intersect with recovery and national team duties. Players have previously missed or limited summer commitments due to childbirth, custody matters, or health-related rest, balancing personal lives with professional obligations.

LeBron James skipped the 2016 Rio Olympics. He opted out to prioritize recovery following his sixth straight NBA Finals appearance, stating simply, “I could use the rest.” While others noted concerns about the Zika virus in Brazil, his main reason was rest after the championship. Including Kevin Durant, who withdrew from the 2014 FIBA World Cup, citing mental and physical exhaustion after a long season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Doncic will miss the final phase of Slovenia’s World Cup qualifying games. He couldn’t participate during the first window due to his NBA commitments. His absence to secure a place in the next round may complicate things for the national team. However, as much as it must be paining him to leave his teammates hanging, it’s time for Doncic to be a dad. While building these irreplaceable family bonds remains the priority, the downtime supports his physical prep.

Luka Doncic isn’t going to take it easy on his recovery amid fighting a personal battle

The Lakers’ playoff hopes fell apart once Luka Doncic suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain. They managed to get past the Houston Rockets in the first round. That added some intrigue to Doncic’s possible return. However, with an eight-week timeline, even getting platelet-rich plasma injections in Spain didn’t help accelerate recovery in time. He could only offer support from the bench. He watched all four games the Lakers played against the top-seeded OKC. Without his influence, which amounts to 33.5 points and 8.6 assists per game, the Purple and Gold couldn’t cope with OKC’s depth.

Best believe, Doncic doesn’t want to be caught staring at playoff games again. He’s thinking about ways to spend time with his daughters. But he hasn’t forgotten about his next season with the Lakers. “Obviously, put the work in and come back ready for the season,” he said during his exit interview.

The former Mavericks sensation is preparing for another purposeful summer. Last time, he focused entirely on getting into the best shape of his life, leading to one of his best individual NBA campaigns. This offseason blends that same work ethic with new emotional priorities – using the time for both continued recovery management and strengthening his role as a father to Gabriela and Olivia.