Lakers' Luka Doncic in Custody Battle With Ex-Fiancée

NBA superstar says he called off engagement and is fighting for custody of daughters

Mar. 11, 2026 at 12:00pm

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Lakers superstar Luka Doncic has separated from the mother of his two young daughters, Anamaria Goltes, and is in a custody dispute. Doncic says he recently ended his engagement to Goltes because he was unable to have his daughters with him in the US during the NBA season. Doncic and Goltes had been dating for a decade after meeting as teenagers in Slovenia, and their daughters were born in 2023 and 2025.

Why it matters

This custody battle between a high-profile NBA player and his ex-fiancée highlights the challenges professional athletes can face in balancing their careers and family life. It also raises questions about the rights of fathers in custody disputes and the difficulties of co-parenting across international borders.

The details

Doncic says he loves his daughters more than anything and has been doing everything he can to have them with him in the US during the NBA season, but that hasn't been possible. He recently made the tough decision to end his engagement to Goltes. Doncic moved from Dallas to Los Angeles in a trade for Anthony Davis in February 2025 and agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers last summer.

  • Doncic and Goltes became engaged in July 2023.
  • Their daughters were born in November 2023 and December 2025.
  • Doncic moved from Dallas to Los Angeles in a trade for Anthony Davis in February 2025.
  • Doncic agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers last summer.

The players

Luka Doncic

A 27-year-old NBA superstar who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is the league's leading scorer this season at 32.5 points per game and ranks third with 8.4 assists while grabbing 7.8 rebounds.

Anamaria Goltes

The ex-fiancée of Luka Doncic and the mother of his two young daughters.

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What they’re saying

“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, but that hasn't been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement.”

— Luka Doncic, NBA Superstar

What’s next

The judge in the custody case will decide on the arrangements for Doncic's daughters in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This high-profile custody battle highlights the challenges professional athletes can face in balancing their careers and family life, as well as the complexities of co-parenting across international borders. It also raises questions about the rights of fathers in custody disputes and the need for more support and flexibility for working parents in the sports industry.