Luka Doncic already picked up a technical foul against the Sacramento Kings during preseason, and if that sounds familiar, it should. This isn’t just a preseason blip; it’s a flashing red light for the Lakers organization and their star player, who was suspended last season for the exact same issue.
LeBron’s Gone, Luka’s The Guy, But What’s The Cost?
It’s Doncic’s third season in LA, and with LeBron James off to the Philadelphia 76ers this summer, the spotlight is solely on him to lead the Lakers on a deep playoff run. But even with that immense pressure, it seems old habits are already dying hard. Last season, Doncic opened up about how incredibly tough it was not seeing his kids. “I didn’t see them almost the whole season,” he admitted. “You wanna spend time with your kids everyday. So last season was pretty hard. I saw them for 5 days in the whole season which is impossible to do. But you know I had to focus on basketball.” That kind of personal strain can definitely boil over on the court, and it sure did.
The 16 Technicals That Rocked Last Season
Remember last season’s chaos? Doncic racked up way too many technical fouls, hitting the dreaded 16-tech mark that triggers an automatic suspension. The NBA dropped the hammer after his 16th technical foul came in a Friday win against the Brooklyn Nets. He and Nets forward Ziaire Williams both got double techs with 5:12 left in the third quarter after some serious jostling following an offensive foul called on Doncic. That meant he had to sit out Monday’s game against the Washington Wizards, a frustrating blow when every game matters. You just can’t have your superstar missing time for something completely avoidable.
Preseason Techs Don’t Count, But The Trend Is TERRIFYING
So, here we are, preseason, and Luka is already jawing with officials. The Athletic’s Law Murray put it perfectly: “Annnnnnnnd we have a preseason technical foul on Luka Doncic. You may recall Luka getting suspended for techs last spring.” The good news? Preseason technical fouls don’t actually count toward the regular season total. Phew. But let’s be real, this is Doncic getting his frustrations out *now*, which is a dangerous sign. He simply cannot afford another regular-season suspension for technical fouls. The Lakers have built this entire team around him for the next several years, banking on his leadership and his presence every single night. If he’s already playing with fire, what’s going to happen when the games actually count? We’ll all be watching to see if he can find a way to keep his cool when it matters most.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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