Los Angeles Lakers guard Luke Doncic recently experienced one of the biggest moments of his life, but it sure did come with a challenging sacrifice. After missing two games to be in Slovenia for the birth of his daughter, Olivia, Doncic flew back to the United States and immediately suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers in Philadelphia. Exhausted both physically and emotionally, Doncic admitted that returning so quickly wasn’t easy.
The guard had only a short window at home before rushing back. The Lakers were preparing for a key game, and his availability was needed. Even with the time difference, limited sleep, and long travel hours, Doncic delivered a triple-double in his first game back.
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I got to see my daughter again, obviously my newborn,” Doncic said after the game…”Coming back, it was kind of hard to leave them behind. But it’s a job, so got to do it.’
Doncic plays through fatigue and emotional weight
Doncic finished with 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists, but he acknowledged his mind wasn’t fully there. Being so far from his family so soon after welcoming a child wasn’t ideal, especially with travel fatigue and pushing his energy to the limit.
‘I was tired. Mentally, I wasn’t there much.”… ”It was back-to-back and then a flight of 12 hours, and then the time difference. It was a lot. But you know it was worth it.’
This isn’t his first time juggling basketball and fatherhood – Doncic already has a two-year-old daughter with fiancee Anamaria Goltes. Still, the timing of Olivia’s arrival meant stepping away and returning under difficult circumstances. The Lakers acknowledged how much he pushed himself just to be available.
LeBron James steps up and closes out the win
Even with Doncic carrying a heavy load, he didn’t have to do everything by himself. LeBron James delivered his strongest performance of the season, scoring 29 points on 12-of-17 shooting, including a late-game shot that sealed a 112-108 victory.
That was vintage ‘Bron.”… ”We’re happy he was there to save us. He had an amazing game, especially the fourth quarter.
Doncic said afterward.
James had missed early-season games due to sciatica and had been working back into rhythm. Sunday’s performance showed a major leap, giving Los Angeles confidence as it continues its strong start.
The Lakers improved to 17-6 with the win and are now shifting attention towards their upcoming matchup against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. For Doncic, it will be another balancing act: staying locked in with the team while carrying the emotions of beginning life as a father again.
