Lakers Star Luka Dončić in Custody Battle with Fiancée Over Daughters

Dončić says he recently ended his engagement to Anamaria Goltes due to inability to have his daughters with him in the U.S. during the NBA season.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Lakers superstar Luka Dončić has revealed he is in a custody battle with his fiancée Anamaria Goltes over their two young daughters. Dončić said he recently ended his engagement to Goltes because he was unable to have his daughters with him in the U.S. during the NBA season, and that everything he does is for his daughters' happiness.

Why it matters

Dončić is one of the NBA's biggest stars, and the custody battle over his children with his former fiancée adds a personal drama to his professional life. The situation highlights the challenges elite athletes can face in balancing their careers and family responsibilities.

The details

Goltes filed a petition for child support and attorneys' fees in California, according to a TMZ report. Dončić, 27, and Goltes had been dating for a decade after meeting as teenagers in Slovenia. They became engaged in July 2023, and their daughters were born in November 2023 and December 2025. Dončić 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.

  • Dončić and Goltes became engaged in July 2023.
  • Their first daughter was born in November 2023.
  • Their second daughter was born in December 2025.
  • Dončić was traded to the Lakers in February 2025.
  • Dončić signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers last summer.

The players

Luka Dončić

A 27-year-old NBA superstar who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. He is the league's leading scorer this season, averaging 32.5 points per game.

Anamaria Goltes

Dončić's former fiancée, with whom he has 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 U.S. during the season, but that hasn't been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement.”

— Luka Dončić (ESPN)

What’s next

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

The takeaway

This high-profile custody battle between an NBA superstar and his former fiancée highlights the challenges elite athletes can face in balancing their careers and family responsibilities. It will be closely watched as the legal proceedings unfold.