Luka Doncic has officially ruled himself out of Slovenia’s upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifiers, confirming on Monday, May 11, that he will not join the national team this summer as he continues recovery and focuses on personal responsibilities.
The Los Angeles Lakers star shared the announcement through an Instagram story, explaining a decision driven away from basketball commitments and centered on family priorities.
“I love my daughters more than anything, and they will always come first in my life,” Doncic stated. “As I continue working toward joint custody of my daughters, I have been forced to make a difficult decision between traveling and playing for the Slovenian national team and being with my daughters this summer.”
He added that his absence is not connected to a lack of commitment to Slovenia, but to circumstances off the court that have become increasingly restrictive over the past months.
“Unfortunately, it has been made extremely difficult for me to see them over the past eight months,” Doncic said. “I have given everything to representing Slovenia and I am disappointed that I will not be able to play for my country this summer.”
The Lakers guard also acknowledged the emotional weight of stepping away from national duty during a crucial competitive window.
“But right now, my daughters and my responsibilities as a father are my priority,” he concluded.
Doncic missed the end of the NBA season and the entire playoffs due to a hamstring injury, and his absence from Slovenia’s summer campaign extends a prolonged period away from competitive basketball at both club and international level.
Slovenia enters the next phase of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers in a strong position within Group H, holding a 3-1 record. The team has already secured 372 points scored and a +52 point differential, sitting above Czech Republic, Estonia, and Sweden in the standings.
The schedule still presents key fixtures, including Slovenia’s upcoming clash against Estonia on July 3, a matchup that could influence final group positioning before the second round structure begins.
Under FIBA’s qualification system for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar, results from the first round carry over into the next stage, meaning Slovenia’s current performances remain critical despite Doncic’s absence.
Without its NBA centerpiece, Slovenia will rely more heavily on its established core and system continuity. The team has already shown balance across four games, but losing a primary offensive initiator reshapes spacing, creation, and late-game execution.
The 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, scheduled from August 27 to September 12 in Qatar, will feature 32 national teams, with qualification stretching across multiple continents and windows.
