Lakers star Luka Doncic announced the arrival of his second daughter, Olivia, on Saturday morning via an Instagram post. Doncic and his fiancée Anamaria Gortes, who already have a two-year-old daughter named Gabriella, welcomed their new addition recently.
Doncic missed the Lakers’ last two games as he traveled back to Slovenia to be with Gortes for the birth. Lakers head coach JJ Redick mentioned on Friday that Doncic is expected to return for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
During Doncic’s absence, the Lakers secured a thrilling buzzer-beater win against the Toronto Raptors, ending LeBron James’ impressive streak of scoring at least 10 points in every game since 2007. However, the Lakers fell to the Boston Celtics 126-105 on Friday, with both James (dealing with right sciatica and left arthritis) and Marcus Smart (left psoas strain) sidelined.
Currently, the Lakers hold third place in the Western Conference with a 16-6 record and will be eager to have their star player back for either Sunday’s game or the upcoming NBA Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday. Doncic is performing at an elite level, averaging 35.3 points and 8.9 assists per game, ranking him fourth in the league.
Fan Take: Luka Doncic’s return is highly anticipated, as he brings electrifying talent and leadership crucial for the Lakers’ championship aspirations. His presence not only boosts the team’s performance but also adds excitement to the NBA, captivating fans and elevating the sport’s competitive spirit.
