Luka Dončić Welcomes Second Child Amidst Speculation of Surprise Return Against 76ers This Sunday

Luka Dončić, the dazzling centerpiece for the Los Angeles Lakers, has just shared some joyous news that’s bound to warm the hearts of basketball fans everywhere—he and his fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, have welcomed their second daughter, Olivia. This young family is growing, with Gabriela already lighting up their lives at two years old. Luka’s recent absence from the court? It’s all because he zipped back to Slovenia to be by Anamaria’s side during this precious time—a move that speaks volumes about his character beyond the hardwood. Coach J.J. Redick’s update hints that we might just see Luka back in action sooner than expected, possibly sparking the Lakers’ offense once more as they gear up for their showdown against the Philadelphia 76ers. Meanwhile, the Lakers have been navigating some choppy waters—snagging a buzzer-beating win over Toronto but stumbling against Boston while key players like LeBron James and Marcus Smart sit out with injuries. Sitting pretty at 16-6 and third in the West, the team’s eager to reunite with their top scorer, who’s been lethal this season, averaging a hefty 35.3 points alongside 8.9 assists per game. The stage is set, the players ready… will Luka’s comeback fuel a new Lakers surge? LEARN MORE

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić announced the birth of his second daughter on Saturday morning, captioning his Instagram post with her name, Olivia. Dončić and his fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, also have a 2-year-old daughter, Gabriela.

Dončić has missed the Lakers’ past two games to travel back to his native Slovenia to be with Goltes for the birth. Head coach J.J. Redick said on Friday that Dončić could return for Sunday’s game at the Philadelphia 76ers.

While Dončić has been out, the Lakers won in thrilling fashion over the Toronto Raptors at the buzzer — though LeBron James’ 10-point streak, which has stood since 2007, ended. On Friday night, Los Angeles fell 126-105 to the Boston Celtics, with James (right sciatica and left arthritis) and Marcus Smart (left lumbar muscle strain) also out.

The Lakers are 16-6 and rank third in the Western Conference, and they’ll be keen to have their NBA-leading scorer back, whether it’s Sunday or Wednesday for their NBA Cup quarterfinal game. Dončić is averaging 35.3 points per game and 8.9 assists, good for fourth in the league.