On Sunday, Dec. 7, Luka Dončić returned to the Los Angeles Lakers lineup after briefly leaving the team to be in Slovenia for one of the most meaningful moments of his life, the birth of his second daughter.
The superstar guard opened up about the emotional whirlwind surrounding her arrival, sharing a rare glimpse into his personal life.
Luka Dončić Opens Up About Leaving Soon After His Daughter’s Birth
Speaking for the first time since rejoining the team, Dončić reflected on the powerful moment he welcomed his newborn daughter, Olivia, with fiancée Anamaria Goltes. “It was a lot,” he admitted. “But I’m just happy to be there when she was born. It was a hard thing to leave, but I was there for the child’s birth and I was very happy.”
Dončić flew to Ljubljana earlier in the week, missing two games to be at Goltes’ side. The couple, who already share a two-year-old daughter, Gabriela, announced the birth with a heartfelt Instagram post captioned simply: “Olivia” with a pink heart.
His relationship with Goltes stretches back more than a decade. High-school sweethearts turned lifelong partners, the two first met when Anamaria was just 12 years old. Over the years, their bond grew through distance, fame, and global attention, culminating in their engagement in the summer of 2023.
While Dončić’s trip home was for the happiest of reasons, his absence left a notable void on the court. The Lakers went 1–1 without him, a small but clear reminder of how central he has become to their identity and offensive engine.
His impact this season has been staggering. Dončić was averaging 35 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.1 assists on 47.2% shooting, leading the NBA in scoring and carrying the Lakers to a dominant 13–4 record when he plays. Without him, their system loses its rhythm and playmaking heartbeat.
His return came just in time for a marquee matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers, and he wasted no time elevating the Lakers’ offense back to its full force. By halftime in the game, Dončić lit the scoreboard for 19 points while also adding eight rebounds and five assists.
On top of that, the Lakers also got LeBron James back, who missed the Lakers’ game against the Boston Celtics.
Dončić finished the game with 31 points on 9-of-24 shooting, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists. The Lakers managed to squeeze a close 112-108 win against the gritty 76ers.
Dončić drew a foul in the last seconds and went on to make both free throws, which ultimately sealed the victory for the Lakers.
