Sources: Doncic in custody battle for daughters

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić has separated from his fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, he told ESPN. Sources close to the situation also said Dončić is in a custody battle over their two daughters.

"I love my daughters more than anything and I've been doing everything I can for them to be with me in the U.S. during the season, but that hasn't been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement," Dončić said in a statement provided to ESPN on Tuesday. "Everything I do is for my daughters' happiness and I will always fight to be with them and give them the best life I can."

Earlier Tuesday, TMZ reported that Goltes filed a petition seeking child support and attorney fees from Dončić. Sources familiar with Dončić's situation told ESPN that the petition was filed in California -- where one of Dončić's daughters was with him for only three months last spring, and his other daughter has never been to the state. Dončić had "no idea" Goltes had filed the petition.

Sources familiar with Dončić's situation added that Dončić, who signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers in August, has always provided for his family and pays for his daughters' expenses "without limitation."

Dončić, 27, proposed to Goltes, a fashion and fitness model, in July 2023 after the two had known each other since their youth and started dating in 2016.

They welcomed their first daughter, Gabriela, in November 2023 in the United States while Dončić was a member of the Dallas Mavericks. Months after he was traded to the Lakers, their second child, Olivia, was born in December in Slovenia.

Dončić was away from the Lakers earlier this season while traveling to Slovenia to be present for the birth of Olivia, missing games against the Toronto Raptors on Dec. 4 and Boston Celtics on Dec. 5.

During Dončić's visit, he expressed a desire to bring back Gabriela to the United States with him when he was returning to join the team in Philadelphia to play the 76ers on Dec. 7. A disagreement with his then-fiancée ensued and Goltes, 27, called the police after Dončić peacefully left the hospital, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.

Officers reported to the scene at Kranj Maternity Hospital on Dec. 6 to interview Goltes. They also interviewed Dončić at his home. According to the police report, reviewed by ESPN, officers "did not detect any elements of a criminal offense or misdemeanor" perpetrated by Dončić.

Dončić flew back to the States later that day, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.

He has not seen his daughters or Goltes since.

When asked about the trip to Slovenia after the Sixers game, Dončić said: "I don't even know how to describe it. It was a lot. I was there for the birth of my daughter, so that means everything to me. But it was definitely a roller coaster."

Goltes deleted all photos of her and Dončić from her Instagram account last week, fueling online speculation about the status of the couple.

An interim injunction was filed by Dončić on Feb. 26 with the Slovenian courts, seeking immediate contact with Gabriela and Olivia, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN. Since flying to L.A. for Lakers training camp on Sept. 26, Dončić has seen his daughters for only two days.

In Dončić's first full season with the Lakers, the 6-foot-8 guard has averaged a league-leading 32.5 points along with 8.4 assists and 7.8 rebounds. L.A. (39-25) hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves (40-24) on Tuesday night.