Luka Doncic just reminded the world that he’s not only one of the NBA’s brightest stars—but also one of its biggest hearts.
Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ 114-89 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, a Slovenian fan named Patrik Zrnko posted a heartfelt tweet that quickly went viral. Zrnko shared that he had traveled all the way from Slovenia and spent €1000 on tickets to watch Luka Doncic, and the Lakers’ star-studded lineup in action—only to be met with disappointment.
LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Doncic himself were all ruled out due to injury management and rest, as the team was playing its fourth game in five nights.
Zrnko tagged Doncic, LeBron, and several other Lakers players, hoping his voice might be heard. And it was.
Luka Doncic saw the post, and instead of letting the fan leave Los Angeles with a bitter memory, he stepped in with a classy gesture. Doncic, through the LD77 Foundation, arranged three tickets for the family’s next game against the Chicago Bulls. Zrnko took to social media once again to thank Luka directly, sharing his gratitude in all caps:
The gesture went viral, with fans across social media praising Doncic’s generosity and sense of loyalty to his fellow Slovenians. And the story may have a fairytale ending—Luka Doncic is expected to return to the lineup against the Bulls, meaning Patrik and his family could still get to witness the magic in person.
The Lakers are finally getting healthy again, just in time to make a push in the final stretch of the season. LeBron James, who has been out since March 8 with a groin strain, is listed as questionable and trending toward a return.
Rui Hachimura, who’s been sidelined since late February with a knee issue, is also close to being cleared. Doncic, along with Austin Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt, is listed as probable after resting against the Bucks.
It’s been a brutal run for the Lakers with six games in eight nights and a string of injuries, but the cavalry is returning. And for one family who made the trek from Slovenia, things just might work out even better than expected.
Instead of seeing the Lakers’ B-team get blown out, they now have a shot at seeing a healthy core—including their hometown hero Luka Doncic—suit up at full strength.
Luka’s kindness will be remembered long after the final buzzer. He turned heartbreak into hope and showed why he’s not just a basketball superstar, but a global ambassador for compassion and class.
