Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles against the Indiana Pacers in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Slovenian national team is preparing for the upcoming 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers at the moment, but Luka Doncic isn’t with them. Doncic decided against playing for his national team this summer and is currently hosting the Los Angeles Lakers in Slovenia for a minicamp.
Doncic is having a blast with his Lakers teammates, but one of his Slovenian teammates is hoping this minicamp, which is also a bonding trip, ends soon. Veteran center Alen Omic was recently asked whether the 27-year-old had shared any motivational words with his national team teammates, and it turns out he hasn’t spoken to them at all.
“No, he did not speak,” Omic said. “He has his obligations. We leave him alone, he leaves us alone. Let him sort out what he needs to do. I hope this all ends as soon as possible, so that he can come help the national team. But we need everyone, it’s not just about him.”
This minicamp is being held from Aug. 20 to Aug. 24. So Doncic is going to be free to join the Slovenian national team soon enough. The six-time All-Star won’t be playing, but perhaps his presence would help the group.
Slovenia are currently fourth in Group L with three wins and three losses, and only the top three teams qualify for the World Cup. They take on France in Paris on Thursday and then Hungary in Ljubljana on Sunday.
France sit atop Group L with five wins and one loss, and Slovenia are massive underdogs in that clash. Omic believes they have depth, but need Doncic, their best player.
“Honestly, we have reserves,” Omic said, via Ekipa. “We need our best player. And we all know who that is. But we have to realize that he is not there. We have to switch. It is clear that when Luka was with us on the court, for example at EuroBasket, everything was much easier. He scored 40 points, and that was it.”
Doncic averaged 34.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 2.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game for Slovenia at EuroBasket 2025. He was simply outstanding and made the All-Tournament team, but they still lost to Germany in the quarterfinals.
This Slovenian team around Doncic is solid, but he doesn’t have a star teammate. They lost 85-78 to Montenegro in their last game, a friendly, on Saturday. Klemen Prepelic led the way with 23 points (6-10 FG), while Omic had seven points (3-7 FG) and 12 rebounds. The 34-year-old is the oldest player on the roster currently and vows to be more aggressive against France as they hope to pull off the upset.
You would have given Slovenia a puncher’s chance with Doncic, but it’s hard to see them coming away victorious without him. As for why he decided not to play for his national team for once, he announced in May it was to spend time with his daughters, Gabriela and Olivia, amid his custody battle with his ex-fiancée Anamaria Goltes.
“I love my daughters more than anything, and they will always come first in my life,” Doncic wrote. “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,” Doncic added. “I have given everything to representing Slovenia, and I am disappointed that I will not be able to play for my country this summer. But right now, my daughters and my responsibilities as a father are my priority.”
Doncic announced he had split with Goltes in March. She filed a petition for child support at the time in Los Angeles, but then withdrew it earlier in August. Goltes said she wanted to resolve the matter amicably and by mutual agreement. That seemed to be a great step, but then came another twist days later.
Goltes filed a claim in Slovenia, and she is now reportedly seeking $50 million from Doncic. Of that, $40 million appears to be for her and $10 million for the two daughters. Goltes is said to be trying to strip some of Doncic’s custody rights as well. This has turned into a messy situation.