The NBA confirmed on Saturday that Lakers star Luka Doncic will be suspended for one game after picking up his 16th technical foul of the season during Friday’s win over the Nets.
Doncic will serve his suspension when the Lakers host the Wizards on Monday.
Under league rules, players or coaches are automatically suspended without pay for one game once they receive a 16th technical foul during the regular season.
For every two additional technical fouls during that regular season, they’ll receive an automatic one-game suspension.
He’ll be eligible to return for Tuesday’s home game against the Cavaliers.
Doncic picked up the technical foul after he and Nets forward Zaire Williams were double T’d up after an altercation midway through the third quarter of Friday’s matchup at Crypto.com Arena.
After Doncic was called for an offensive foul against Nic Claxton on an inbounds play underneath the Lakers basket, Williams was yelling next to Doncic after the turnover. Doncic shoved Williams in the back before Williams hit Doncic in the face while his back was turned to him.
The referees review saw a “push” from Doncic, followed by an “action” after the push by Williams, leading to the double technicals.
“He [yelled] in my face three times,” Doncic said postgame. “I just wanted to get out of there. It’s a double tech, of course. What can I say? I didn’t even talk. I just wanted to get out of there. And they said I pushed. My push was exaggerated, which was obviously not. And I don’t know what else to tell you.”
Doncic dodged the league’s mandated one-game suspension for accumulation of technicals after being assessed his 16th technical during the March 21 road win over the Magic for a verbal back and forth with Magic center Goga Bitadze, who was also given a technical foul, but the technicals were rescinded by the league, allowing Doncic to be eligible for the March 23 road loss to the Pistons.
This is the first time Doncic has been suspended because of an accumulation of technical fouls after coming close in previous seasons.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!
Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!
Before 2025-26, there had been three times in his NBA career (2020-23) that Doncic had finished a season with 15 technical fouls.
He finished with 13 techs in 50 games last season with the Mavericks and Lakers after having 13 in 2023-24 with the Mavericks.
While playing for the Mavericks, Doncic narrowly avoided a one-game suspension in the season finale of the 2021-22 season after the NBA office rescinded his 16th technical foul. Doncic also picked up a 16th technical foul late in the 2022-23 season, which was also rescinded, resulting in him not having to serve a one-game suspension then either.
Doncic, who was already performing at an All-NBA level, has stepped up his play over the last month before the suspension.
He’s averaged 36.5 points (49.3% shooting, 39% on 3-pointers), 8.1 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 2.3 steals during the Lakers’ 14-2 stretch going back to Feb. 28.
