NBA Star Luka Dončić Engaged to End, Legal Battle Over Daughters Erupts
Basketball superstar Luka Dončić has reportedly ended his engagement to longtime partner and model Anamaria Goltes, with the former couple now embroiled in a legal dispute concerning their two young daughters. The Los Angeles Lakers guard confirmed the split in a statement to ESPN on March 10, citing irreconcilable differences over where their children would reside during the NBA season as the catalyst for the breakup.
“I love my daughters more than anything and I’ve been doing everything I can for them to be with me in the U.S. during the season, but that hasn’t been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement,” Dončić stated. He further emphasised his commitment to his children, adding, “Everything I do is for my daughters’ happiness and I will always fight to be with them and give them the best life I can.”
The couple shares two daughters: Gabriela, aged two, and Olivia, who is just three months old. Court documents, which have been reviewed by media outlets, reveal that Goltes has filed a petition in California seeking child support and attorney fees from the six-time NBA All-Star. Reports suggest that Dončić was taken by surprise by this legal filing. According to the court documents, Gabriela has spent approximately three months in California with her father, while Olivia has yet to visit the United States.
The unfolding legal drama follows a series of events that have reportedly heightened tensions between the former partners. On February 26, Dončić initiated legal proceedings in a Slovenian court, filing an interim injunction that sought immediate contact with his daughters.
Despite the personal turmoil, Luka Dončić has maintained a professional focus on his basketball career. He appeared publicly with the Lakers shortly after confirming the split, attending the team’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. The Slovenian star was observed signing autographs for fans near the tunnel prior to the matchup, projecting a composed and professional demeanour.
The roots of this situation can be traced back to December 2025, when Dončić travelled to Slovenia to be present for the birth of his second daughter, Olivia. The NBA guard had missed two Lakers games to attend the birth and later shared his reflections on the experience with reporters upon his return to the United States.
“I don’t even know how to describe it,” he told reporters at the time. “It was a lot. I was there for the birth of my daughter, so that means everything to me. But it was definitely a roller-coaster.”
During that pivotal visit to Slovenia, Dončić reportedly expressed his desire to bring his eldest daughter, Gabriela, back to California with him. This request, according to reports, led to a significant argument between the couple at the hospital. Following this disagreement, Goltes contacted the police. A subsequent police report indicated that officers investigated the incident but “did not detect any elements of a criminal offense or misdemeanor.”
Dončić joined the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025, following a trade from the Dallas Mavericks. He subsequently signed a substantial $165 million contract extension with his new team. In contrast, Goltes returned to Slovenia with their eldest daughter in May 2025 and remained in her home country through the birth of their second child.
The relationship between Dončić and Goltes began in 2010 when they were both just 12 years old. They officially started dating in 2016. The NBA star proposed to Goltes in July 2023, and the couple publicly announced their engagement on Instagram shortly thereafter, sharing their joy with fans.
Since the confirmation of their breakup, both Dončić and Goltes have reportedly removed photos of each other from their respective social media accounts. Meanwhile, the legal proceedings concerning the custody and well-being of their two young daughters are ongoing.
