In a heartfelt announcement that has resonated across the basketball world, Luka Doncic has decided to sit out this summer's FIBA World Cup, prioritizing quality time with his two young daughters over representing the Slovenian national team. The decision comes on the heels of a tough playoff exit, as the Los Angeles Lakers were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals on Monday night.

Taking to Instagram, the Lakers star shared a message—originally written in Slovenian and later translated into English—that underscored his commitment to fatherhood. Doncic, who is working toward a joint custody agreement with his ex-fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, explained that the past eight months have been especially challenging when it comes to spending time with their daughters: three-year-old Gabriela and five-month-old Olivia.

"I love my daughters more than anything, and they will always come first in my life," Doncic wrote in the post. "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. Unfortunately, it has been made extremely difficult for me to see them over the past eight months."

For a player known for his fierce competitiveness on the court, this move highlights a deeply personal side of the game. While fans will miss seeing Doncic lead Slovenia on the international stage—where he has been a standout performer in past tournaments—his choice to step back for family is a reminder that even the biggest stars have priorities beyond the hardwood. This summer, Doncic will be trading the court for home time, focusing on the role that matters most to him: being a dad.