Luka Doncic faced a one-game suspension after receiving his 15th technical foul of the season. This suspension came during the Los Angeles Lakers’ relatively simple game against the struggling Washington Wizards.
Doncic avoided a suspension last week when the NBA withdrew his 16th technical foul. However, he and Ziaire Williams received double technicals during the Lakers’ match against the Brooklyn Nets, which kept Doncic out of the Lakers’ 120-101 victory over the Wizards. This incident gave him some leeway before his next required suspension.
Luka Doncic’s Technical Foul History
This season was the third time Doncic had received 16 technical fouls, only for the NBA to rescind the technical and the resulting suspension. In the 2022-23 season, Doncic had two technicals withdrawn, one for cursing at a teammate rather than the officials.
In his most recent incident, Doncic and Goga Bitadze from the Orlando Magic both received double technicals for exchanging words, though the referees might have misunderstood the situation as Bitadze was speaking Serbian. Both players were granted an exemption.
Doncic began accumulating technicals early in his career, recording nine in his second season and reaching 15 by 2020-21. He has consistently ranked among the league leaders in technical fouls, reaching 15 in three consecutive seasons. Last season, he accrued 13 in just 50 games.
Luka Doncic’s Timing for a Break
The crucial 16th technical foul this season occurred when Williams celebrated an offensive foul called on Doncic. While Doncic is known for his emotional responses, the contact was slight, leading to the type of double technical often issued to prevent altercations.
This meant Doncic triggered his one-game suspension at a strategic time. With two upcoming games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he now only needs to avoid two more technicals in the Lakers’ final seven games—or even six, since he might be able to sit out the last game against the Utah Jazz.
While it’s challenging to picture Doncic being measured in his emotional reactions, the timing of his first technical foul suspension worked out well for him and his team.