Luka Doncic just pulled off one of the biggest surprises in NBA history. The Dallas Mavericks, the team he carried to the Finals last season, traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal that nobody saw coming. The swap, which sends Anthony Davis and Max Christie to Dallas while the Lakers get Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris, has left the league in shock. Even NBA players couldn’t believe it. Devin Booker thought the fan telling him was joking, while Kevin Durant called it “insane.”
This trade also reunites Doncic with JJ Redick, his former teammate who now coaches the Lakers. And in true business fashion, the move could cost Doncic a staggering $115 million—he was eligible for a $345 million supermax deal with the Mavs but now will likely be limited to around $230 million in his next contract. Despite all the headlines about his professional life, his personal life remains just as eventful, especially since he became a father in late 2023.
Inside Luka Doncic’s Relationship With Anamaria Goltes
Luka Doncic has been dating his soon-to-be wife, Anamaria Goltes, since 2016, after first meeting as kids in Croatia. They are not yet married but got engaged on July 7, 2023, in Slovenia and welcomed their first child, a daughter named Gabriela, in early December 2023.
Luka Doncic and Anamaria Goltes have been together since 2016, but their love story goes way back. They first met as kids in a seaside town in Croatia when they were just 12 years old. Even as their lives took them around the world, they stayed connected, turning a childhood friendship into a lifelong partnership.
Goltes, born on April 30, 1998, in Slovenia, attended the University of Ljubljana, studying at the School of Economics and Business. She juggled her education with her modeling career, signing with Immortal Models Management and representing brands like Lisca Lingerie and Zlatarna Celje. She’s also built a solid presence on social media, using her platform to share her fashion insights and glimpses into their life together.
On July 7, 2023—a date that likely honors Luka Doncic’s jersey number, 77—he proposed to Goltes in a picturesque setting at Lake Bled, Slovenia. It was a long-anticipated moment after seven years of dating, and the two soon had another major milestone on the way. In early December 2023, they welcomed their daughter, Gabriela. Though they didn’t specify the exact birth date, Doncic missed the Mavericks’ December 1 game against the Memphis Grizzlies for “personal reasons”—most likely to be there for his daughter’s arrival. Since then, he’s carried her name, “Gabriela 💕,” on the midsoles of his sneakers, a constant reminder of his new role as a father.
Life in Dallas has been an adjustment for Goltes, who moved there from Slovenia. Initially, she struggled with the culture shift, finding new routines and even simple things like her favorite grocery stores. Over time, she grew to love the city, even saying it reminded her of home. The couple shares their home with three dogs—Hugo, a Pomeranian, Gia, a White Swiss Shepherd, and Viki, a large breed they adopted in 2022. Goltes often talks about how their dogs bring them closer, especially during times when Doncic is consumed by his basketball schedule.
Despite Luka Doncic’s demanding career, Anamaria Goltes remains his biggest cheerleader. Whether she’s at a game wearing his number 77 or supporting him from home, she’s always in his corner. She attended the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in a custom denim jacket featuring his name and number, and when he won Rookie of the Year in 2019, she was right by his side on the NBA Awards red carpet. But their partnership isn’t just about basketball. They also work together on philanthropic efforts, particularly through Doncic’s foundation. When he couldn’t visit Slovenian children’s hospitals during the 2022 holiday season, Goltes went in his place, bringing joy and holiday spirit to the kids he supports.
Luka Doncic’s move to Los Angeles brings forward the beginning of a new chapter. It means big changes for him, Goltes, and Gabriela, but if their past proves anything, it’s that they thrive together no matter where life takes them. From childhood friends in Croatia to new parents balancing NBA stardom and family life, their story is only getting more remarkable. Now, as Doncic teams up with LeBron James in purple and gold, the world will be watching—not just for his next highlight reel, but for the moments that truly define him off the court.
