Slovenia, Luka’s Way: Inside Dončić’s Five-Day Itinerary for the Lakers

With a distinctly personal touch, Dončić introduced his teammates to Slovenia as a green country of memorable experiences, sporting excellence and places that have shaped his own story.

A new Lakers chapter begins in Slovenia

Luka Dončić joined the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025 and is set to take on an even more prominent leadership role in the upcoming season. With that comes a new challenge: bringing a group of world-class players together and building the chemistry needed to win.

The five-day visit to Slovenia provided the Lakers with an opportunity to spend time together away from the basketball court, strengthen personal connections and experience Dončić’s home country through his eyes.

It was also a chance to discover the places that shaped his childhood, character and sporting journey – including where his passion for basketball first began.

Ljubljana through Luka’s eyes

After arriving at Ljubljana Airport, the team headed to the Slovenian capital, where they stayed at the InterContinental hotel throughout their visit.

One thing followed them almost everywhere: fans. Crowds gathered at different stops around the city, respectfully showing their excitement at seeing one of the NBA’s most recognisable teams in Slovenia.

Their first evening brought the players together around the table at CUBO restaurant, setting the tone for a visit in which food, sport and time spent together were never far apart.

The following day began with training at Stožice Arena, before the players swapped the basketball court for a castle setting and lunch at Strelec restaurant at Ljubljana Castle.

The views from Castle Hill proved particularly popular, with several players sharing impressions of Ljubljana on social media.

Later, Luka’s 77X fan community posted a mysterious message on Instagram inviting fans to gather at Triple Bridge at 5 pm.

Those who came were rewarded with a memorable surprise. Twenty fans first received signed Luka Dončić merchandise, before the Lakers themselves appeared aboard a boat on the Ljubljanica River, greeting the crowd while discovering Luka’s hometown from the water.

The day ended with dinner and an evening at NEBO restaurant in the heart of Ljubljana.

From Olympic rowing to a round of golf in Bled

Saturday took the team from the capital to one of Slovenia’s best-known Alpine destinations: Bled.

There, the Lakers were treated to a distinctly Slovenian sporting experience – rowing in an eight with Slovenian Olympians.

The setting was equally memorable. Vila Zlatorog, overlooking Lake Bled, provided the backdrop for a day combining elite sport, spectacular scenery and relaxed team time.

Former Slovenian Olympians joined the players on the lake, adding an authentic sporting dimension to the experience while the team took in Bled from a completely different perspective.

From the lake, the group moved on to Royal Bled Golf, ranked among the world’s top golf courses.

Luka and his teammates spent the afternoon playing golf, socialising and enjoying views of the surrounding forests and mountains.

The day concluded with dinner at the golf course and trophies for the tournament winners – prompting plenty of social-media jokes about the Lakers already securing their first silverware of the new season.

Back to where it all began

Sunday brought one of the most personal moments of the entire visit.

The Lakers visited Luka Dončić’s childhood basketball court in Ljubljana, the place where he first started shooting hoops as a seven-year-old and where his love of basketball began.

The court was renovated by the Luka Dončić Foundation in 2021 and today carries his name.

Young Slovenian players joined the Lakers on court, enjoying the rare chance to play alongside NBA stars, take photographs and collect autographs.

After another training session at Stožice Arena, the team slowed the pace for lunch, with pizzas delivered from Pop’s Pizza, one of Europe’s Top 50 pizzerias.

The delivery itself became part of the story: a Ljubljana Kavalir electric vehicle transported the pizzas through the city centre to the team’s hotel, attracting considerable attention on social media.

The afternoon remained active. Some of the players went bowling, while others explored Ljubljana by bicycle. They also stopped for ice cream at Zvezda on Congress Square, with fans once again gathering along the way.

For their final dinner in the capital, the Lakers headed to STEAKHOUSE naša hiša on the banks of the Ljubljanica.

A meaningful final day in Ljubljana

The final day of the visit took on a more charitable character.

Luka Dončić has a long-standing tradition of supporting young patients at the University Children’s Hospital in Ljubljana, particularly during the Christmas and New Year period.

This time, he was joined by his Lakers teammates for a visit to University Medical Centre Ljubljana, including the maternity hospital and children’s hospital.

The visit also coincided with Kobe Bryant Day, a meaningful date for the Lakers organisation. Players traditionally mark the occasion by visiting young patients, spending time with families and offering gifts and encouragement. This year, that tradition continued in Ljubljana.

The visit was warmly received by the children, their families and hospital staff, bringing an emotional close to five days that had combined sport, friendship, Slovenian hospitality and a strong personal connection to Dončić’s homeland.

After collecting their luggage from the InterContinental hotel – and signing a final round of jerseys, caps and sneakers for waiting fans – the Lakers headed to Ljubljana Airport.

They left Slovenia having experienced much more than a team trip: Luka Dončić had introduced them to his country, his favourite places and some of the people and experiences that helped shape who he is today.

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