Luka Dončić is a Slovenian professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, widely regarded as one of the most gifted offensive players of his generation. A two-time NBA scoring champion and six-time All-NBA First Team selection, Dončić moved to the Lakers in a blockbuster February 2025 trade and is now the undisputed franchise centerpiece of the post-LeBron James era in Los Angeles.
Quick facts
- Full name: Luka Dončić
- Born: February 28, 1999, in Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Nationality: Slovenian
- Height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
- Position: Point guard / shooting guard
- Current team: Los Angeles Lakers (#77)
- Known for: Two NBA scoring titles, six All-NBA First Team selections, 2018–19 NBA Rookie of the Year, leading Real Madrid to the 2018 EuroLeague title
- Partner: Ex-fiancée Anamaria Goltes
- Children: Two daughters, Gabriela and Olivia
Early life and background
Luka Dončić was born on February 28, 1999, in Ljubljana, Slovenia, to Mirjam Poterbin, a Slovenian owner of beauty salons, and Saša Dončić, a basketball coach and former player of Serbian descent. Basketball was in the family from the start: Luka began organized play at age seven with Union Olimpija’s youth program in Ljubljana. His parents divorced in 2008, with legal guardianship granted to his mother.
At 13, Dončić left home for Spain, signing with Real Madrid’s youth academy in 2012. He made his professional debut for Real Madrid’s senior team at 16 in 2015 — the youngest debutant in the club’s history — and quickly established himself as the best teenage prospect in European basketball.
Conquering Europe: Real Madrid (2015–2018)
Dončić’s rise at Real Madrid was extraordinary. In 2017 he helped Slovenia win EuroBasket — the country’s first European championship — and was named to the All-Tournament Team. In 2018, at just 18 and 19 years old, he led Real Madrid to the EuroLeague championship, winning both EuroLeague MVP and EuroLeague Final Four MVP — the youngest winner of both awards — plus ACB MVP honors. He had outgrown European competition before his 20th birthday.
Dallas Mavericks: a superstar is made (2018–2025)
On draft night, June 21, 2018, Dončić was selected third overall by the Atlanta Hawks and immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Trae Young and a future first-round pick. The move proved transformative for Dallas. Dončić won the 2018–19 NBA Rookie of the Year award with 98 of 100 first-place votes, then earned five consecutive All-NBA First Team selections (2020–2024) and five All-Star nods.
His peak moments in Dallas included a franchise-record 73 points against the Atlanta Hawks on January 26, 2024 — the fourth-highest single-game total in NBA history — and the 2023–24 NBA scoring title at 33.9 points per game, which made him an MVP finalist. He led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals, where they fell to the Boston Celtics in five games.
In August 2021 he signed a five-year, $207 million rookie max extension, then the largest guaranteed rookie extension in NBA history.
Los Angeles Lakers and the post-LeBron era (2025–present)
On February 2, 2025, Dallas stunned the basketball world by trading Dončić to the Lakers in a three-team deal built around Anthony Davis going the other way. Dončić debuted on February 10, 2025, and averaged 28.2 points over 28 games as the Lakers finished 50–32 before losing in the first round to Minnesota.
On August 2, 2025, he signed a three-year Lakers extension worth up to $165 million (~$161.35 million guaranteed per Spotrac) with a player option for 2028–29, tying him to Los Angeles through at least 2027–28. His first full Lakers season (2025–26) brought a second scoring title: 33.5 points per game over 64 games, plus a sixth All-NBA First Team selection and fourth-place MVP voting. He missed the 2026 postseason with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain suffered April 2, 2026; the Lakers won their first-round series over Houston before being swept by Oklahoma City.
The 2026 offseason reshaped the franchise: LeBron James informed the Lakers on June 30, 2026 that he would not return, signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on July 24, 2026. The Lakers rebuilt around Dončić with a young supporting cast headlined by Austin Reaves and center Walker Kessler. Dončić arrived at 2026 training camp in what coaches called “fantastic shape,” returning to the floor October 6, 2026 after 184 days away. He opens his ninth NBA season — and the post-LeBron era — on October 21, 2026 against the Golden State Warriors.
Personal life
Dončić was in a long-term relationship with Anamaria Goltes, whom he began dating in 2016 and got engaged to in 2023; the engagement ended in 2026. They have two daughters, Gabriela (born December 2023) and Olivia (born December 2025). In October 2026, Dončić filed a petition under the 1980 Hague Convention through Slovenian courts in a custody matter, first reported by The Athletic’s Dan Woike. He skipped Slovenia’s 2026 summer national-team campaign to spend time with his daughters and hosted the Lakers’ team minicamp in Slovenia in August 2026.
Net worth snapshot
As of October 2026, published estimates of Luka Dončić’s net worth range from about $58.5 million (Forbes) to about $100 million (Celebrity Net Worth as a cross-check), with career on-court earnings of roughly $198.3 million. Read the full breakdown in Luka Dončić’s net worth article.
FAQ
How old is Luka Dončić?
Luka Dončić was born on February 28, 1999, in Ljubljana, Slovenia — he is 27 years old as of the 2026–27 NBA season.
Which teams has Luka Dončić played for?
Dončić played for Union Olimpija’s youth setup and Real Madrid (2015–2018) in Europe, the Dallas Mavericks (2018–2025) in the NBA, and the Los Angeles Lakers since February 2025.
What are Luka Dončić’s career achievements?
His honors include the 2018 EuroLeague title and MVP, the 2018–19 NBA Rookie of the Year award, two NBA scoring titles (2023–24, 2025–26), six All-NBA First Team selections, five All-Star appearances, and a 73-point game on January 26, 2024 — the fourth-highest single-game total in NBA history.
Is Luka Dončić married?
No. Dončić was engaged to Anamaria Goltes, but the engagement ended in 2026. They have two daughters, Gabriela and Olivia.
What happened in the 2025 Luka Dončić trade?
On February 2, 2025, the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team deal, receiving Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick in return. It was one of the most shocking trades in NBA history.
Sources
- ESPN — 2018 NBA Draft trade coverage (Tim MacMahon)
- NBC Sports — Rookie of the Year coverage; Lakers contract extension
- Spotrac — career earnings and contract details
- AP via Philippine Inquirer — 73-point game coverage
- New York Post — injury, return, and family coverage (October 2026)
- The Athletic — custody reporting (Dan Woike)
- StatMuse — 2025–26 season statistics
- Wikipedia — Luka Dončić (cross-check)