Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the NBA. Like any other superstar, he feels like teams do not have many ways to stop him. And in his mind, that is when refs allow a physical game where teams can hit him without being called for a foul. Following the Lakers’ latest loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the Slovenian star again complained about officiating.
Luka Doncic and the Refs: A Never-Ending Love Story
Luka Doncic has gotten a fair share of technicals because he feels he doesn’t get enough calls. He is not innocent, however. We have to mention Luka’s frustration with getting hacked and not getting a call, which is obvious in every game. He then screams at the refs and stares them down.
After the latest game against the Brooklyn Nets, Luka was asked how he could react to a team being that aggressive on him and whether he should have gotten more calls.
“I mean, at the end of the day, it’s just, it was a lot,” he said. It wasn’t fair, but you know, we just got to play the game. I got to keep playing the game. But it was a lot man. I ain’t gonna lie. I am not going to say anything, but I think everybody saw the game.”
For his part, despite the team missing several key players, Luka tried to guide them to a win. He finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists, and two steals. Yet, shot only 3-4 from the free throw line. With the ways the Nets were playing him, he probably should have gotten a few more calls. Head coach JJ Redick, however, talked about how the team responded poorly to the game and didn’t show enough commitment to win.
Is Luka Getting Enough Calls?
To be fair, Luka should not complain about not getting enough calls. Since getting to LA, he has upped his free throw attempts per game, averaging 7.9. In Dallas this season, he averaged only 6.6. Of course, the lights shine brighter in LA, and the Lakers are among the darlings when it comes to free throws. For years, fans have been calling out the Lakers and how they get a favorable whistle.
Luka, for his part, has seasons when he averaged 9.2, 10.5, and 8.7 free throws per game. He certainly gets calls, but every superstar feels like he is not getting enough calls when teams play physical with them.
Should the Lakers Be Worried About Luka Doncic’s Relationship With Refs?
One of the biggest criticisms of Luka’s career is his never-ending relationship with referees. Sometimes, he spends more time arguing with referees than focusing on the game at hand.
In last season’s Finals, there were times that Doncic spent valuable moments arguing with officials instead of focusing on his team. The Lakers have LeBron James, and he will help Luka understand how and when to talk to refs. But the Lakers certainly do not want Luka getting technical fouls and missing time.
For the season, Luka has 10 technical fouls. Per NBA rules, if a player gets 16 technical fouls, he will be suspended for a game. Throughout his career, Luka has reached that number three times. He had 16 in 2020-21 and 17 for the next two seasons. Last year, he finished with 15, on the edge of missing a game. For his career, he has 87 technical fouls.
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