After the Los Angeles Lakers were swept 4-0 by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs, Luka Doncic took to social media to announce his plans for the summer and discuss his future with the team. The Lakers fell 115-110 in Game 4, ending their season prematurely.
In a heartfelt post, Doncic wrote: “I love my daughters more than anything—they will always come first in my life. Because I am still fighting for joint custody of them, I have to make a tough decision between representing Slovenia this summer or staying by their side. Unfortunately, I’ve barely seen them over the past eight months.”
He continued: “I have given everything for Slovenia. It’s incredibly disappointing not to be able to play for my national team this summer, but right now, my daughters and my responsibilities as a father must take priority.”
Doncic also shared the Lakers’ official playoff elimination post and offered words of encouragement to his teammates. “I’m so proud of my teammates who gave everything in this series. Lakers Nation, we will be back,” he wrote.
The superstar guard missed the entire postseason due to a hamstring injury. During the regular season, he played 64 games, averaging 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. Speaking after the game, Doncic admitted his recovery is still far from complete. “It’s really frustrating. I know a lot of fans were hoping I could come back, but honestly, I’m still a long way from being fully ready. Some of the reports in the media were false. Whenever I’m able to play, I’ll give 100 percent.”
Reflecting on his time with the Lakers, Doncic expressed his appreciation: “I feel very comfortable here. I love living in Los Angeles and playing for the Lakers. This is one of the best teams in the world. Wearing the purple and gold and being part of this organization means a lot to me.”