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Slovenian basketball player Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks to the media during the NBA All-Star media day.
The off-court story surrounding Luka Dončić has taken a dramatic turn as the Los Angeles Lakers superstar confirmed he has ended his engagement to longtime partner Anamaria Goltes amid a developing custody dispute involving their two daughters.
The revelation follows earlier reports from TMZ Sports that Goltes had filed a legal petition in California seeking child support and attorney fees. Hours later, Dončić addressed the situation directly in a statement to ESPN, confirming the couple’s separation and emphasizing that his priority remains his children.
“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 said. “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.”
Luka Dončić Responds After TMZ Report on Child Support Petition
The situation first gained public attention on Tuesday when TMZ Sports reported that Goltes had filed a petition seeking financial support and legal fees from Dončić.
The report followed earlier speculation from Slovenian outlet Siol.net, which had reported that Dončić and Goltes were no longer together. At the time, neither Dončić nor Goltes had publicly addressed the rumors.
Hours later, Dončić confirmed to ESPN that he had indeed ended the engagement.
Sources familiar with Dončić’s situation later told ESPN that the filing occurred in California, even though one of their daughters had only briefly stayed in the state and the other had never lived there.
Those ESPN sources also said Dončić was unaware the petition had been filed before learning of it through the media.
People close to the Lakers star told ESPN that Dončić has consistently supported his family and pays for his daughters’ expenses “without limitation.”
The legal dispute represents a stark shift in a relationship that had spanned nearly a decade and began long before Dončić became an NBA superstar.
Luka Dončić and Anamaria Goltes’ Long Relationship Comes to an End
Dončić and Goltes grew up in Slovenia and began dating in 2016 as Dončić’s basketball career started to rise internationally.
He proposed to Goltes in July 2023 after several years together.
Their first daughter, Gabriela, was born in November 2023 while Dončić was still a member of the Dallas Mavericks. Their second child, Olivia, was born in December 2025 in Slovenia shortly after Dončić had begun his tenure with the Lakers.
Goltes reportedly removed photos of the couple from her Instagram account last week, fueling speculation online about the status of their relationship before the news became public.
Disagreement in Slovenia Escalated the Situation
The conflict between Dončić and Goltes reportedly intensified earlier this season when the Lakers star traveled to Slovenia for the birth of Olivia.
Dončić missed games against the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics in early December so he could be present for the birth.
According to sources cited by ESPN, Dončić hoped to bring Gabriela back to the United States with him when he returned to rejoin the Lakers for a road game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
A disagreement reportedly followed at Kranj Maternity Hospital, leading Goltes to call local authorities.
Police arrived at the hospital on Dec. 6. According to a police report reviewed by ESPN, officers found no indication of a criminal offense or misdemeanor by Dončić.
He left the hospital peacefully and flew back to the United States later that day.
Dončić has not seen Goltes or his daughters since, the ESPN report added.
Lakers Star Seeking Contact With Daughters
The legal battle has since expanded internationally.
Sources told ESPN that Dončić filed an interim injunction with Slovenian courts in late February seeking immediate contact with Gabriela and Olivia.
Since arriving in Los Angeles for Lakers training camp on Sept. 26, Dončić has reportedly seen his daughters only twice.
The situation has unfolded quietly behind the scenes while Dončić continues one of the most dominant seasons of his career.
Luka Dončić Dominating for Lakers Despite Personal Turmoil
On the court, Dončić has remained sensational.
The 27-year-old guard leads the NBA in scoring, averaging 32.5 points per game while also posting 8.4 assists and 7.8 rebounds during his first full season with the Lakers.
He recently delivered one of the most impressive performances of the season, exploding for 44 points against the Indiana Pacers in a 128–117 win while sitting the entire fourth quarter.
Dončić finished that night with nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks.
The Lakers entered Tuesday night’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 39–25 record, firmly in the Western Conference playoff race.
But as Dončić made clear in his statement, basketball success has taken a back seat to a far more personal priority.
“I love my daughters more than anything,” he told ESPN.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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