Overview
- Dončić confirmed Saturday that he will not play for Slovenia during the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifying window and said his two daughters are the main reason for the decision.
- He told local media in Ljubljana that his April hamstring injury is behind him and that he is doing individual workouts and a Lakers‑coordinated rehab program.
- Slovenia must proceed through multi‑stage qualifying without its longtime star, and the team has added eligible players such as Jaxson Hayes to help fill the gap.
- With no national‑team travel on the calendar, Dončić plans a quieter offseason built on gym work, one‑on‑one practice and extensive golf sessions, and he said he skipped watching the NBA Finals because of family priorities and time differences.
- The choice follows Dončić’s public separation and a developing custody and legal dispute that he says is driving his family‑first timetable and could shape his international availability later this summer.