The NBA has overturned the second technical foul that Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers received during their recent game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This decision came just hours after Doncic was ejected in the fourth quarter of a 136-120 loss.
The incident occurred when the Lakers were ahead 108-107 with 7:40 left on the clock. Doncic received the technical foul while interacting with a fan sitting courtside. He explained that he was simply having a back-and-forth with the fan, not directing his anger at the referee, J.T. Orr.
After Doncic’s ejection, the Thunder surged, finishing the game strong with a 29-12 run.
Doncic defended his actions post-game, stating, "I never got a fan ejected. If [the fan is] going to talk, I’m going to talk back." He emphasized that his exchanges with fans are part of the game and shouldn’t lead to penalties from officials. He had already received another technical foul earlier for arguing a foul that wasn’t called on Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt.
Referee Tony Brothers commented on both fouls, explaining that for the first, Doncic directed profanity at an official, and for the second, he looked directly at an official and used vulgar language.
The fan involved, Jeremy Price, who identifies as "The Courtside Tattoo Dude," also shared his perspective. He clarified that Doncic’s comments were aimed at him, not the referee. Price stated, "He turned around and shot an expletive back," suggesting that Orr may have misunderstood the situation.
This ejection certainly impacted the game between the Lakers, who are ranked No. 3 in the Western Conference, and the Thunder, who currently lead the league with an impressive 65-14 record.
As a fascinating backdrop to this situation, it’s worth noting that technical fouls and player interactions with fans have been trending in NBA discussions recently. Players like Kevin Durant and Draymond Green have also faced scrutiny over their engagements with fans, highlighting an ongoing debate about where the line is drawn in these interactions.
In the upcoming game, Doncic will face off against the Mavericks for the first time since a significant trade between the two teams in February, adding extra excitement to his return to Dallas.
For more about NBA player interactions and game rules, check out ESPN’s coverage.
Check out this related article: Game Changer: Supreme Court Rules Trump Can Dismiss Independent Agency Leaders – What It Means for the Future
Source link