The Los Angeles Lakers team trip to Luka Doncic's native Slovenia was extended with a visit to Ljubljana Maternity Hospital and a nearby Pediatric Clinic to greet mothers with newborn babies and ill children.
Concluding the visit Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt gave a quick interview to a Slovenian reporter, who asked him if he would ever come back to the country.
Vanderbilt said he would like to come back and hinted about possibly returning with a Slovenian passport.
"I would love to [come back]. Not gonna lie, I didn't know much about it before I came here, but it's definitely a spot I will revisit," he said.
"I'm looking to get my Slovenian passport, so we'll see. Might be part Slovenian."
Could Vanderbilt be traded from the Lakers?
Jarred Vanderbilt stands as a prominent trade piece being thrown around the league's trade and rumor mill for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Vanderbilt is currently holding a highly significant four-year, $48 million contract extension that runs through the 2027-28 season. He is set to earn $12.4 million in the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season.
This past season, he appeared in 65 games and averaged 4.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across 17.4 minutes.
Vanderbilt hammered his worth in LA as a defense-first wing around Luka Doncic, and only time will tell if the Lakers would eventually explore any possible trade avenues around him.
Lakers wrap up special Slovenia minicamp
The hospital visit provided a meaningful conclusion to a four-day trip that Doncic organized to bring his Lakers teammates together before the 2026-27 NBA season.
The Lakers arrived in Slovenia on Thursday, with the minicamp combining basketball preparation with extensive team-bonding activities. The private trip was organized and financed by Doncic.
After checking into their Ljubljana hotel, the group began with a team dinner before getting to work on the basketball court.
The Lakers held multiple practices at Stozice Arena, including a two-hour workout led by assistant coach Greg St. Jean.
The group also experienced Ljubljana away from basketball, including a boat ride along the Ljubljanica River, meals around the city and a visit to Ljubljana Castle.
The trip later moved to Bled, where Doncic's teammates competed in rowing activities on Lake Bled before playing golf.
Why Luka Took The Lakers To Slovenia
Play