The flight from Los Angeles to Ljubljana isn’t a short one. It cuts across continents, oceans, and time zones—yet somehow, for Luka Dončić, it felt like a journey from the west side of Los Angeles to the east side..
One moment he was lacing up his sneakers at the Lakers’ facility, the next he was racing home to Slovenia, chasing something far more precious than basketball glory: the birth of his second daughter, Olivia.
She arrived early Saturday morning, a soft-spoken miracle announced to the world through an Instagram post that felt equal parts joy and awe.
In the photo, his newborn daughter lies on a soft pink blanket. Swaddled in a pink top with white pajamas, pink heart emojis over her face. Dončić’s caption, just her name “Olivia” followed by more pink heart emojis.
Dončić’s fiancee, Anamaria Goltes, who he’s known since they were both 12 years old, is now the proud mother of two. Their firstborn daughter, is two-year-old Gabriela, now a proud big sister. And Luka, at 26, now has another reason to sprint through airports with a goofy grin and a phone full of newborn photos.
He didn’t stay long in Slovenia. Parenthood rarely follows a schedule, and neither does the NBA. After two missed games marked only as “personal reasons” on the injury report, Dončić rejoined the Lakers in Philadelphia ahead of their matchup against the 76ers. His teammates greeted him with hugs and jokes—because that’s what happens when your superstar disappears for the most meaningful reason imaginable.
And then, after the final buzzer, Luka finally spoke.
He didn’t talk about the Sixers’ defensive coverages or the Lakers’ 16-6 start or the MVP-level numbers he continues to post—league-leading 35.3 points per game, nearly nine assists, nearly nine rebounds, and over a steal per night. Instead, he talked about fatherhood, the deepest box score of them all.
“It’s amazing, man,” he said, the smile uncontainable. “Another daughter. I’m so happy. I know they’re going to stress me out when they get older, but I already told them—I’m gonna be their security after I retire.”
He said it with the protective charm only a girl dad can muster—half-joking, fully sincere. The kind of line that will follow him for years because it reveals exactly who he is: a superstar who still sees life’s biggest moments happening far from the court.
The Lakers held steady without him, splitting the two games he missed, but there’s no denying the gravitational pull he brings. On the floor, he orchestrates everything—JJ Redick’s offense humming through his hands, the Lakers surging near the top of the Western Conference standings with an early-season confidence that feels both earned and sustainable.
But off the floor? That’s where Luka Dončić becomes something even more compelling.
A father. Twice over now.