Luka Doncic has been one of the NBA’s best players for years now. But the Lakers star is quietly building a reputation for something else off the court, and his latest move is a personal one.
Doncic launched Stay in Play, a new grant program from his foundation that aims to keep kids from quitting sports because of money trouble. The idea is brutally straightforward: financial barriers, not lack of talent, push most kids out of youth athletics between ages 12 and 15. The program gives grants up to $25,000 to cover coaching, equipment, travel and league fees.
At least 77 athletes in that age range will get help over the next three years.
Doncic connected the cause to his own childhood in Ljubljana, Slovenia. There was a basketball court behind his apartment, and he ran to it constantly. It was his escape.
“When I was a kid growing up in Ljubljana, all I wanted to do was run to the outdoor court behind my apartment to play basketball. It was my peace place,” Doncic said in a statement. “I’m so sad to see kids walking away from youth sports because of circumstances outside their control. Play changed my life. I know how quickly dreams can disappear without the right opportunities. That’s why I’m so passionate about Stay in Play.”
No plans to find the next pro
The program covers 176 sports. Basketball, soccer, swimming, gymnastics, track and field, and everything in between. Foundation CEO Lara Beth Seager was clear that identifying future professionals is not the point.
“Financial barriers shouldn’t decide whether a young athlete gets to keep playing the sport they love,” Seager said.
The goal is simpler than that. Just let kids keep doing what they already love.
Deadlines and eligibility
Applications opened June 24 and run through August 20. Eligible countries include the United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia. The first group of recipients will be announced this winter.
Doncic posted on social media to announce the program, writing that sports changed his life and that Stay in Play will give more kids a chance to play.
This builds on years of foundation work for Doncic. He’s been reshaping how his platform gets used, and this effort is about giving young athletes the same shot he had. The basketball court behind that apartment in Ljubljana didn’t cost anything to use. For a lot of kids, the price of playing keeps going up.
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