Anja Jenko and Luka Doncic. Image via: anjajenko | lukadoncic/ Instagram
Jenko is a 34-year-old Slovenian model and influencer from Ljubljana, the same city where the Lakers were staying for their four-day minicamp. She’s best known for landing the cover of Playboy Magazine back in 2014, a moment that put her on the map in Slovenia and beyond. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines She leaned into the fame, launching her fashion and lifestyle content on Instagram in 2016, and has spent the decade since building a glamorous, jet-set-looking online presence. On the personal side, she has a son named Liam, and was engaged in 2021 to Mario Pejcic, the boy’s father, though the two have since split.
Local outlet Nedeljski dnevnik reported Jenko was at the same venue that night. Outlet Žurnal24 reported that Dončić actually avoided that part of the venue altogether, and that Jenko only made a brief appearance before heading elsewhere, later spotted at a different restaurant with another man and a group of friends. So, no confirmed connection. Jenko, for her part, hasn’t confirmed or denied anything, and there’s no indication she’ll be showing up courtside anytime soon.
The Lakers, mid-trip and led by Dončić himself, spent a Friday night at an exclusive Ljubljana restaurant that doubles as a nightclub, one with strict no-photo, no-video rules for guests. That single detail was enough to set off a wave of American sports outlets running headlines implying Luka and Jenko partied together. The Truth Behind the Luka Dončić–Anja Jenko Rumor Except that’s not really what happened. Multiple Slovenian sources pushed back fast. Reps for Dončić also stepped in to clarify he never crossed paths with her, prompting at least a couple of outlets to quietly amend their own headlines after the fact. No interaction. Just two people who happened to be in the same city, during the same week, at the same type of venue which, this being the internet, was more than enough to go viral. It’s also worth noting the timing. Dončić has had anything but a quiet offseason personally, he’s currently in an ongoing child support dispute with his ex-fiancée, who’s reportedly seeking a significant settlement tied to their two daughters. Against that backdrop, any hint of a new name attached to him was always going to travel fast, fair or not. As for the Slovenia trip itself, it was never really about nightlife. Dončić organized and largely funded the whole thing as a chemistry-building exercise for a heavily reworked Lakers roster heading into the season, mixing practices at a major arena with sightseeing, golf, and yes, one canal-side mishap involving a teammate and a thrown T-shirt. For now, she’s just a name that got swept into a Luka Dončić rumor cycle that had a lot more heat than substance. Her father is Slovenian politician Janko Jenko, so she’s not exactly a stranger to public life back home. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.
Today she sits at over millions of followers, and she’s been getting a noticeable bump this week thanks to the rumor mill.
Luka Dončić’s Team-Bonding Trip Sparks Buzz Around Anja Jenko
Luka Dončić recently hosted his Los Angeles Lakers teammates in Slovenia for a team-building excursion. The trip included cultural activities such as visits to castles and rides on canal boats. During this time, Anja Jenko’s name gained attention alongside Dončić’s, prompting discussions among fans and analysts alike.