Luka Dončić invited his newly assembled Los Angeles Lakers teammates to Slovenia for a mini-camp to build chemistry before the new season. The trip included activities like rowing and golf, which helped deepen relationships among the players. Dončić, who hosted the event despite personal reservations about inviting adults to his home country, expressed excitement about taking on the role of the team’s leading star following LeBron James's departure to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Luka Dončić, a top-four player in the NBA, recently hosted a minicamp in Slovenia for his new teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers, aiming to build team chemistry and deepen personal connections. The trip included activities like playing basketball, golf, dining at favorite restaurants, fishing, visiting Lake Bled, and going to nightclubs. Each player wrote handwritten notes thanking Dončić for his generosity and hospitality. General manager Rob Pelinka highlighted the significance of the experience, noting that it was meaningful for teammates to be treated in such a way by their superstar. Dončić’s decision to host the camp also allowed him to spend time with his two daughters, who live in Slovenia with their mother, while helping the team adjust to having nine new players on the roster.
Written for “Luka Doncic Mini Camp” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Luka Dončić was nervous before his teammates came to Slovenia.
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teammates → come → Slovenia
He had never hosted a mini camp before, let alone asked a bunch of 20 and 30-something-year-old men to travel to Europe for him.
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He → host → him
But with nine new players on the Lakers’ roster and the hopes of a 17-time championship franchise on his shoulders, he decided to step outside his comfort zone.
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he → decide → zone
So, he paid for his teammates to come to his home country so they could build chemistry.
uncertain
they → pay → chemistry
He didn’t want to leave his two daughters (two-year-old Gabriela and nine-month-old Olivia), both of whom he shares custody with his ex-fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, who lives in Slovenia.
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who → want → Slovenia
“Obviously, I was with my daughters,” Doncic said at Lakers media day on Monday.
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Doncic → say → Monday
“So we decided that we would bring the team to Slovenia.
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we → decide → Slovenia
Dončić’s teammates got to understand him and his culture in a way few others have.
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others → get → way
It deepened their relationships.
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It → deepen → relationships
It helped the Lakers get to know their superstar, who finished fourth in MVP voting last season.
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who → help → voting
“It was very important for me to show them where I’m from, and I think everybody liked it,” Doncic said.
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Doncic → show → it
“We had some great time.
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We → have → time
Just, you know, it was very nice that all of them came, which I know it’s not easy.
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it → know → them
But that just showed what kind of group we are.”
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we → show → group
When Austin Reaves was asked about the trip, he couldn’t help but trash talk Doncic a bit.
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he → ask → Doncic
“We won the rowing, we won the golf, we won bowling,” Reaves said.
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Reaves → win → bowling
“Luka tried to put on a blue shirt when his rowing team lost, which is crazy.
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which → try → shirt
But he did host us, so we let him hold the first place trophy for once.”
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him → host → trophy
The Lakers enter training camp Tuesday already having taken an international trip together.
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Lakers → enter → trip
They have inside jokes.
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They → have → jokes
They feel gratitude for Doncic, who paid for them to share that experience.
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who → feel → experience
It’ll help expedite their biggest challenge next season: gelling.
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It → help → challenge
With so many new faces, the quicker they can bond, develop trust, and learn one another, the faster they’ll be able to compete in the very crowded Western Conference.
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they → bond → Conference
As for Doncic, he made it clear that he’s looking forward to the challenge of being the Lakers’ biggest superstar after LeBron James left for the 76ers in free agency in July.
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James → make → July
“I was in this position in my career a lot of times, so it’s not new to me,” Doncic said.
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Doncic → ’ → me
“But I feel great.
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I → feel → ?
I feel excited.
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I → feel → ?
And like I said, I’m ready to go.
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I → say → ?
It’s been a long time since I played basketball, so I’m ready.”
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I → play → basketball
Doncic missed all of last postseason after suffering a strained hamstring in April.
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Doncic → miss → April
He said he’s entering training camp healthy and without any restrictions.
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he → say → restrictions
“I’m feeling great,” he said.
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he → feel → ?
“I feel rested.
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I → feel → ?
Mentally I feel great, so I can’t wait just to start.”
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I → feel → ?
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