Luka Doncic has welcomed his second child, announcing the birth of daughter Olivia on Instagram on Saturday morning.
The Lakers star posted a photo celebrating the new arrival, confirming he has been away from the team for the birth in his hometown of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Doncic missed Los Angeles’ last two games for “personal reasons,” though sources told ESPN he travelled home to be with his fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, for the delivery. The couple also share a two-year-old daughter, Gabriela.
Lakers hopeful of a quick return
Lakers coach JJ Redick said on Friday that Doncic could rejoin the team as early as Sunday’s game in Philadelphia.
The Lakers went 1-1 in his absence, beating Toronto at the buzzer before falling to Boston on Friday night.
The loss to the Celtics came with several key players sidelined, including LeBron James and Marcus Smart, leaving Los Angeles eager for its leading scorer to return. The team has Saturday off after a grueling back-to-back.
Doncic remains the NBA’s top scorer
Even with a brief break from the court, Doncic remains at the centre of the Lakers’ strong start.
He leads the NBA in scoring at 35.3 points per game, while also averaging 8.9 assists, 8.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals.
His production has helped push the Lakers to a 16-6 record and third place in the Western Conference.
The Lakers also face a busy stretch ahead. If Doncic does not return on Sunday, the team expects him back by Wednesday for its NBA Cup quarterfinal, a game that carries significant weight in their early-season campaign.
Social media debunks ‘Austin’ baby name rumour
While fans celebrated the birth, one rumour also took off online. Some posts claimed Doncic had given his daughter the middle name “Austin” as a nod to teammate Austin Reaves.
The theory gained traction because Reaves has been carrying the scoring load during Doncic’s absence.
However, the rumour collapsed almost instantly. Doncic confirmed the baby’s name is simply Olivia. No tribute was involved.
With the speculation settled and Olivia officially welcomed into the family, the Lakers now wait for the moment their superstar boards a flight back from Slovenia.
