Without Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
Speaking to reporters after Game 4, Doncic revealed his plans for the offseason, including his main priority, and it doesn’t involve basketball.
“I want to spend time with my daughters,” Doncic said, via Benjamin Royer of The Orange County Register. “And that’s probably the only thing that is on my mind right now.”
It has been a tough season for Doncic outside of basketball and injuries. His personal life has taken a hit after his longtime girlfriend and ex-fiancée Anamaria Goltes went back home to Slovenia last summer.
The two are engaged in a custody battle of their two daughters, Gabriela and Olivia, as first reported by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin back in March.
Doncic also plans to make a full recovery from a strained hamstring that kept him out for the entire postseason.
Luka Doncic Not Playing For Slovenia This Summer
GettySlovenia’s guard #77 Luka Doncic reacts after the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 quarter-final basketball match between Germany and Slovenia in Riga, Latvia, on September 10, 2025.
While Luka Doncic’s recovery timeline isn’t clear five weeks since his injury happened, the Lakers superstar made a tough announcement on his Instagram stories.
Due to his custody battle against Anamaria Goltes, Doncic has decided to not represent Slovenia this summer at the upcoming 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifying round from July 3 to 6.
“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,” Doncic wrote.
The six-time All-Star added, “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.”
Slovenia was slated to face Estonia on July 3 and Sweden on July 7. They are currently sitting atop Group H with three wins and one loss. They qualify for the second round of the qualifying tournament if they finish third or higher in the group.
Luka Doncic Wasn’t Close To Getting Cleared
GettyLuka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring during the first half of their game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on February 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Even if the Lakers were able to make things interesting against the Thunder, Luka Doncic would not have been available to play.
Doncic told reporters after Game 4 that he wasn’t really close to getting cleared to return from his hamstring injury.
“I know some people wanted me (to come) back, but obviously I wasn’t close to clearing,” Doncic said, via The Associated Press. “If I could be out there, I would be, 100%. Everybody in that room knows this is really tough. This is the best time to play basketball.”
Doncic’s comments seemingly confirmed ESPN’s Brian Windhorst’s report on The Rich Eisen Show last week about his injury being worse than initially thought.
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