Luka Doncic did not waste any time becoming one of the brightest stars in the NBA. The No. 3 pick from the 2018 draft ascended rapidly to the top ranks, with five All-Star selections already in his career.
He is one of a number of European players starring in the league. In addition to Doncic, other European natives in the NBA’s upper echelon include Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nuggets center Nikola Jokic.
As Doncic’s profile reaches new heights, his relationship with his family is receiving a share of the spotlight as well. His mother in particular played a guiding role in his basketball career.
Here is everything to know about Doncic, his relationship with his mother Mirjan Poterbin and his family background.
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Who is Luka Doncic’s mom?
Mirjam Poterbin gave birth to Doncic on February 28, 1999.
When his basketball career began to blossom, she stepped in as her son’s manager. After he joined Real Madrid at the age of 13, she took charge of his business decisions and affairs, allowing him to focus on his game.
His mother spent years as the owner of a beauty salon in Slovenia, which helped her gain experience to transition to sports management.
Before Doncic was born, his mom spent time on national television as well. She was a model and dancer in her early years, competing for the title of Miss Slovenia in 1993. Eventually, she transitioned to the game show scene, as one of her most prominent roles came as Slovenia’s version of Wheel of Fortune.
“I was lucky to have my own salon, that I could order clients only while Luka was in kindergarten or at school, but otherwise we spent all the time together,” Mirjam said on the Zvezdana show in 2020.
Who is Luka Doncic’s dad?
Doncic’s dad is Sasa Doncic. He is a former basketball player, sharing the same career as his son.
Sasa and Mirjam divorced
The elder Doncic played from 1993 to 2010, spending a majority of his time playing for hoops clubs in Slovenia. He also had stops in Serbia and France. In 2010, he switched from the court to the sidelines, getting into coaching after his playing career was over.
Recently, Doncic joined the Slovenia Basketball Federation. In January 2024, Sasa was named director of sport of the organization. He’s gotten the chance to watch his son represent their country, as Luka has been a member of the national team since 2016.
“Whenever I can see my child play live, it’s special,” Doncic’s dad said to D Magazine. “But it’s even more special to see him play in the city where he was born and when you see the whole arena cheering, paying tribute. It’s a special kind of acknowledgment and honor.”
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Where is Luka Doncic from?
Doncic was born and raised in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He was in the country until he moved to Spain at the age of 13 years old.
“I was a little scared in the beginning because first I said, ‘Maybe Luka, you can think about it,’ but he looked me in my eyes and said, ‘Mum, I want to try,’'” Mirjam said in an interview with People. “So that was the moment I knew I had to let him go.”
The Mavericks guard comes from a basketball family, as his father played professional basketball in their home country. He went on to coach after his playing career ended in 2010.
In addition, Doncic’s uncle, Rasho Nesterovic, also played professional hoops. He was in the NBA for 12 seasons and won a championship with the Spurs in 2005.
