Doncic skips Slovenia World Cup qualifiers for family

Luka Doncic will not play for the Slovenian national team during the upcoming World Cup qualifying window, confirming his absence for the entire summer. The Los Angeles Lakers star emphasized that prioritizing time with his daughters is the main reason for this decision, a plan established from the outset. He believes the national team, with its blend of seasoned veterans and emerging young talent, is well-equipped to perform strongly without him. Doncic also noted the addition of his Lakers teammate, Jaxson Hayes, to the Slovenian roster as a significant boost.

Doncic shared that his previous injury, which affected him late in the NBA season, is now fully behind him, and he feels completely recovered. Reflecting on the Lakers' past season, he acknowledged it fell short of expectations, attributing some of the struggles to injuries that disrupted team momentum. With his national team duties paused, Doncic intends to dedicate the summer to his family and prepare for the upcoming NBA season.

He also commented on his return to Ljubljana, his home, describing it as always special despite the public attention. While he misses a sense of normalcy, he accepts it as part of his success. He also mentioned following the FIFA World Cup and enjoying watching matches, supporting Brazil and Spain. In discussions about one-on-one basketball, Doncic identified Kyrie Irving as a fun and challenging opponent.