Author: Monojit Mandal
Luka Doncic, the famous Dallas Mavericks star, surprised his fans on Friday by announcing his engagement to his longtime girlfriend, Anamaria Goltes. The 23-year-old basketball prodigy revealed the happy news to his 8.3 million followers on Instagram, uploading a touching photo of himself putting an engagement ring on Goltes’ finger, against the stunning backdrop of Lake Bled in Slovenia.
Doncic and Goltes shared their joy with the world in a combined post on Instagram. The description of the photo was simple but meaningful, consisting of the numerical equivalent of the date, “7.7”, followed by a ring emoji and a love emoji. The couple started dating when they were teenagers. Goltes was first seen in Doncic’s Instagram photos in 2017, demonstrating their deep connection and affection for each other.
The news of Doncic’s engagement quickly spread throughout the NBA world, generating a wave of congratulations from his teammates. LeBron James, among others, expressed his satisfaction in the comments, saying: “Congratulations, brother!” Former teammates Jalen Brunson, Boban Marjanovic and Spencer Dinwiddie joined Doncic in the celebration. Notably, ESPN commentator JJ Redick, who played with Doncic during the 2020-21 season, also expressed his congratulations.
Surprisingly, the words of congratulations weren’t just restricted to the basketball circle. Thibaut Courtois, janitor of Doncic’s previous basketball team (Real Madrid), also sent an emotional message in Spanish, saying: “Felicidades amigo”, which translates into “congratulations friend”. Taylor Lautner, best known for his role in the “Twilight” series, also congratulated the Slovenian shipowner on his engagement.
While Doncic is enjoying the joy of his engagement, he is also facing a critical summer after missing the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season. Despite his excellent individual achievements, including an incredible average of 32.4 points per game last season, the Mavericks’ ranking fell after the All-Star break. Looking ahead, Doncic and his teammate Kyrie Irving, who joined the Mavericks in February, hope to lead the franchise back to the playoffs this season, rekindling their championship hopes.