Luka Doncic got ejected from the Lakers v Thunder game tonight for talking back to a fan. Well, not exactly. He did do that. But the referee mistook Luka’s comments as directed at him. So he handed the Lakers star his second technical of the game. And then it was bye-bye Luka. But all this could’ve been avoided. Maybe not if one of Luka’s teammates is to be believed, but we’ll get to that later.
How? Well, it’s simple. Luka Doncic could’ve gone directly to the ref and informed him about the fan’s comments from the stand. Problem solved, right? Well, after the game, Luka actually addressed this and explained why it wasn’t on the cards.
“I never got a fan ejected, never. But if he’s gonna talk, I’m gonna talk back like always. So that they had nothing to do with the ref. So I didn’t really understand,” said Luka. Clearly, Luka has his own method of dealing with fans who make comments on missed shots. And it doesn’t feel like he’ll be willing to change that. Moreover, Luka’s sassiness has gotten so many iconic moments over the years, do we really want things to change? While Luka might be this considerate about his fans, there is someone with no qualms to spare about getting fans ejected for this kind of behavior.
Mar 26, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) in the first half Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Well, it’s Luka’s teammate, LeBron James. A few years ago, during a Lakers game against the Indiana Pacers, Bron had two Pacers fans ejected. “Can’t be tolerated,” he said. Before revealing that there are “things I would never say to a fan and [things] they shouldn’t say to me.” LeBron clearly believes players and fans must not cross a line. And because those fans brought up LeBron’s son, Bronny, it’s not hard to see why the King felt like they did cross it.
But Luka? He plays jump rope with it. Perhaps it would behoove Doncic to follow LeBron’s example on this one. That said, it’s one thing when an NBA official gets it wrong. But what happens when they’ve got a grudge against a player? When they’d rather talk to anyone but THAT player? Well, that’s the situation that may be afoot according to one of Luka and LeBron’s teammates.
Jarred Vanderbilt thinks things have gotten personal between Luka Doncic and JT Orr
Luka Doncic wasn’t the only one on the receiving end of JT Orr’s questionable decisions tonight. His teammate Jarred Vanderbilt also received a technical tonight. Almost immediately after Luka’s ejection. So when Vando spoke to the media post-game, he did not mince any words.
Jarred Vanderbilt says when Luka Doncic picked up his first technical foul, referee J.T. Orr said he would “talk to anybody but Luka.” Vanderbilt said that the techs Doncic received “seem personal” pic.twitter.com/v7UGsaO8JW
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 9, 2025
“Ref was just like ‘I’m gonna talk to anybody but Luka.’ It seems a little personal at that point. But you know, he was just advocating for me, saying I got fouled,” Vando spoke about the first technical Luka Doncic received. Now the official reason for Luka receiving his first technical of the game was his alleged use of profanity directed at a game official. But if what Vando says is true, Luka talking back to the fans is the least of his worries.
Vando’s suggestion is quite a serious one, and it could have massive ramifications. We’ve seen several players fined over five figures for less. Just ask Anthony Edwards who recently paid $35,000 for failing to leave the court in time after being ejected. So, accusing a referee of being biased against Doncic probably doesn’t bode well for Vando.
But only time will tell whether anything comes of this. However, till then, we just hope Luka can stay out of trouble and avoid chirping back at fans. Knowing the Slovenian superstar, though, the chances of that happening are slim.
The post Refusing to Learn, Luka Doncic Uses LeBron James’ Behavior With Fans as Excuse Amid Teammate’s Personal Issue Revelation appeared first on EssentiallySports.
