Luka Dončić Out for Lakers Game Due to Birth of Second Child

Los Angeles, CA — Luka Dončić will miss the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday due to personal reasons. The 24-year-old star is currently in Slovenia for the birth of his second child with fiancée Anamaria Goltes.

Dončić’s absence comes as a surprise for fans eager to see the former Mavericks player in action in Canada, as this was his only scheduled game in the country this season. Reports indicate that the Lakers had announced Dončić would be sidelined for this matchup in advance.

As the Lakers look to secure a victory, team leaders LeBron James and Austin Reaves will step up in Dončić’s absence. The Lakers recently saw their seven-game winning streak ended and hope to bounce back against the Raptors.

Currently, Dončić is enjoying precious moments with his family after welcoming their new baby on Wednesday. It remains unclear when he will return to the court. He is also likely to miss the Friday night game against the Boston Celtics, unless he returns quickly to the United States.

This season has been impressive for Dončić, as he leads the NBA in scoring, averaging 36.4 points, alongside 8.9 rebounds and 8.9 assists. His outstanding performance last December, including multiple triple-doubles, sets high expectations for when he returns.

After the Raptors game, the Lakers will continue their road trip, concluding it against the 76ers on Sunday, December 7. Fans are hopeful that Dončić will join the team for their matchup against the Spurs on December 11 during the NBA Cup quarterfinals.