Luka Doncic’s Injury and Personal Struggles
Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic has been ruled out for the rest of the regular season after sustaining a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The injury occurred during the Lakers’ 139-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday evening, when Doncic pulled up during a drive in the third quarter.
This setback is a significant blow for the Lakers, especially considering that Doncic has been performing at an exceptional level this season. He has averaged a league-high 33.5 points across 64 games, along with 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. If he does not return for the remainder of the season, it could impact his eligibility for postseason awards such as MVP and all-NBA honors.
Doncic’s agent, Bill Duffy, released a statement via Shams Charania, highlighting the player’s historic performance this season. The statement emphasized that Doncic has led the league in scoring, helped the Lakers secure third place in the Western Conference, and been a central figure in one of the most competitive MVP races in recent memory.
The statement also mentioned the team’s intention to apply for an “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge” to the 65-game rule, which would allow Doncic to be considered for end-of-season awards despite the injury.
Duffy also noted that Doncic missed two games earlier this season due to the birth of his second child in Slovenia. His daughter was born on December 4, and despite being on another continent, Doncic returned to the United States just two days later to play for the Lakers. This demonstrates his commitment to the team and the league.
“The record-breaking season deserves to be noted in the history books, despite last night’s unfortunate injury and other extraordinary circumstances,” the statement concluded. “We look forward to working with the NBAPA and the league office to ensure a fair outcome in this matter.”
Personal Challenges Off the Court
The injury comes at a challenging time for Doncic off the court, as he recently faced legal issues involving his ex-fiancée. Anamaria Goltes, the mother of Doncic’s two children, has been involved in a dispute over child support. According to court documents, Goltes filed a petition for child support in Los Angeles, which Doncic is now seeking to have dismissed.
He argues that Goltes and their daughters—Gabriela, aged two, and Olivia, three months—are not California residents. Therefore, the state should not be the appropriate forum for adjudication of the case. Doncic also filed a family law action in Slovenia last month, where the couple resides.
According to Doncic, Goltes was aware of the case in Slovenia but chose to file in California to take advantage of its higher child support payments. A spokesperson for Doncic stated: “Luka has always provided for anything his daughters could need or want and will continue to do so. He will always fight to be with his daughters and give them the best life possible.”
Last month, Doncic revealed he had ended his engagement with Goltes just months after the birth of their second child. He explained that while he loves his daughters deeply, it has been difficult to be with them during the season.
“I love my daughters more than anything and I’ve been doing everything I can for them to be with me in the US during the season,” Doncic told ESPN. “But that hasn’t been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement. 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.”
Doncic proposed to Goltes in July 2023 near Bled Castle in Slovenia. The couple met when they were children.
