Luka Doncic skips Slovenia duty: “My daughters come first”
Luka Doncic has shut down recent speculation about a return to the Slovenian national team, confirming he will not participate in the qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA World Cup and will instead focus on family and recovery
The plans for Luka Doncic’s offseason had already been set back in May, when the Los Angeles Lakers’ season came to an end, and a recent promotional appearance in Ljubljana merely served to confirm the decision: no Slovenian national team this summer.
Speaking to local media during an official Jordan Brand event, the Lakers star dismissed recent comments made by his father, Saša, who had suggested Doncic might suit up for Slovenia in the upcoming 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Instead, the 27-year-old made it clear that the coming months will be devoted exclusively to family responsibilities and physical recovery.
Details of the Slovenian star’s offseason plans, reported by Siol, highlight a sharp departure from the relentless schedule he has maintained over the last five years:
We already know that I won’t be playing for the national team. The main reason is my daughters. Other than that, my routine stays the same: individual workouts, time in the gym, and playing other sports. This year golf has become a regular part of my plans. We used to play a lot with the team, and now that we’re apart, I play on my own. It relaxes you, lets you be out in nature, away from your phone, and completely at peace
Luka Doncic
Doncic’s decision is driven by both personal and medical considerations. For months, the superstar has reportedly been involved in a legal custody dispute regarding his two daughters with former partner Anamaria Goltes, a situation that has led the four-time All-NBA selection to clear his basketball calendar in order to maximize family time.
There is also the need for a complete physical reset. Since 2021, Doncic has played in the Olympics, EuroBasket, the FIBA World Cup, and multiple qualifying tournaments without taking a single offseason away from competition.
The extended break will also allow him to fully recover from the Grade 2 hamstring strain that heavily impacted the end of the Lakers’ season. The injury, suffered on April 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, forced Doncic to miss the entirety of Los Angeles’ playoff run. The Lakers advanced past the Houston Rockets in the first round before being swept 4-0 by Oklahoma City in the Western Conference semifinals.
I always say it: a season without a championship is a failed season. We were unlucky. I got hurt, Austin Reaves got hurt too. In March we were playing incredible basketball, but in the end things went differently. There’s time to think about the future. I just hope everything moves in the right direction
Luka Doncic
His individual production once again confirmed his elite status – 33.5 points per game, earning the second scoring title of his career, along with 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and a spot on the All-NBA First Team. However, his fourth-place finish in the MVP race reflected the Lakers’ inability to take the next collective step.
For the first time in his career, Doncic has chosen to step away. After his appearance in Ljubljana, he is expected to travel to Rome to finalize additional details surrounding the launch of the capital city’s new basketball club – a move that looks ahead both to the 2026-27 season and to the broader NBA Europe project.