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Luka Doncic revealed that family remains his primary focus this summer, while also expressing confidence in Slovenia’s chances despite his absence and confirming that his injury issues are now behind him. “We already know that I won’t play for the national team. The main reason is my daughters. Everything else is pretty much the same. I’m doing individual workouts, training in the gym, and also playing other sports. This year golf has become part of the routine, so it’s a little different. Golf is amazing. We played a lot with the team before. Now we can’t because we’re apart. It’s really relaxing—you’re out in nature, away from your phone, at peace. It’s one of the best things,” Dončić told per Siol.
Marc Stein: Sources close to Lakers star Luka Dončić have reiterated to @TheSteinLine that nothing has changed from his recent statement below: He is not playing for his national team this summer in FIBA World Cup qualifying to spend as much of his offseason as possible with his daughters.
Luka will first complete his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury before gradually rebuilding his conditioning ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. Unlike in previous years, when he played a total of 39 official games for Slovenia over the past five summers, he will not represent the national team this offseason. In the 2025-26 NBA season – his eighth in the league – Doncic appeared in 64 games, the third-lowest total since he entered the NBA in 2018. It also marked the first time he finished a season injured.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Hayes has now completed that process, and the connection to Doncic could have meaningful implications for his future in Los Angeles. “Jaxson Hayes completed the paperwork to become a Slovenian,” Windhorst said. “He can join the Slovenian national team for Luka, which I’d like to say is one of the smartest things Jaxson Hayes has ever done because I think he’s just secretly signed a contract extension.”
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The Los Angeles Lakers center, Jaxson Hayes, is in the final stages of completing paperwork to obtain Slovenian citizenship and represent Slovenia alongside Luka Doncic, sources tell BasketNews. Hayes, 25, born in Norman, Oklahoma, first confirmed in October that he was pursuing Slovenian citizenship. According to BasketNews sources, the process is nearing completion, with Hayes finalizing the remaining paperwork to obtain a Slovenian passport. If completed on time, Hayes would be eligible to play for Slovenia in the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualification windows in July and August.
Boban Marjanovic is the new member of Ilirija, as confirmed on the ABA League website, where this Slovenian club competes. What was speculated in the past few days has now been confirmed, and the Serbian basketball player has become a new member of Ilirija, which is in the ABA League this season.
The team run by general manager Sasa Doncic, father of his former Dallas Mavericks teammate Luka, is a newcomer to the top division of the regional league, after earning promotion from the second tier last season.
Dave McMenamin: Jaxson Hayes says he is pursuing a Slovenian passport to be able to play on the national team with Luka Doncic. Beyond the chance to play with Doncic, Hayes says his interest has been sparked by the fact that USA Basketball does not hold open tryouts — which he doesn’t agree with
Iztok Franko: Jaxson Hayes on his relationship with Luka: "That's my guy, we're working on getting me a Slovenian passport right now so I can play with him next summer." Marc Stein: The Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes said last night in Las Vegas that he is trying to secure a Slovenian passport to play alongside Luka Dončić on Slovenia’s national team as its naturalized player.
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Luka Updates: Jaxson Hayes says he's woking on a Slovenian passport to play with Luka on national team YT/sportingtrib
Jaxson Hayes says he's woking on a Slovenian passport to play with Luka on national team
— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) October 16, 2025
YT/sportingtrib pic.twitter.com/piAwMJEpN2
Slovenia had previously explored the idea of naturalizing Daniel Gafford, but that plan never materialized. This offseason, Hayes re-signed with the Lakers on a one-year deal that includes a rare no-trade clause. The 25-year-old center averaged 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds over 56 games last season, starting 35 of them. His role expanded after Los Angeles traded Anthony Davis to Dallas in early February. A six-year NBA veteran, Hayes began his career with the New Orleans Pelicans. In the upcoming 2025–26 season, he's expected to serve as the backup center to Deandre Ayton, the former No. 1 overall pick.
BasketNews: Franz Wagner on skinny Luka Doncic: " He's like that all the time." 🗣 #EuroBasket pic.x.com/Xo0ftDi1Rf
After another incredible game ( 39 points - a record for the quarterfinals of the European Championship ) , Luka Dončić took responsibility and stood before the Slovenian media. " I'm angry, 100 percent angry. I could have done more in the last quarter, I forced shots, I could have done better in key moments, I didn't make the right decisions... Kudos to the guys, we showed that we can win. We all fought, we gave our all ." He pointed out that despite all the problems and poor start, the Slovenians wanted more than the quarterfinals. " It wasn't a good enough result for us, we aimed for more, but many spoke disrespectfully about us. We are fighting for Slovenia, for the jersey, we all give 100%, kudos to everyone, we could have been on vacation, but we fought for every ball, we gave our all, " said Dončić .