Less than a week after avoiding a suspension because of an accumulation of technical fouls, Lakers star guard Luka Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul of the season on Friday night, meaning he’ll have to serve a one-game suspension in the team’s next game.
Doncic picked up the technical foul of the season 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.
Doncic is unlikely to dodge the league’s mandated one-game suspension for accumulation of technicals this time around.
He was assessed a 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Magic for a verbal back and forth with Magic center Goga Bitadze, who was also given a technical foul, but they later rescinded by the league, allowing Doncic to be eligible for the March 23 road loss to the Pistons.
Because the technical was rescinded, Doncic entered Friday with 15 technical fouls.
If Friday’s technical foul isn’t rescinded, Doncic will have to serve the suspension for Monday’s home game against the Wizards.
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It’d mark the first suspension Doncic has had to serve because of an accumulation of technical fouls despite coming close in previous seasons.
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Doncic narrowly avoided a one-game suspension in the season finale of the 2021-22 season after the NBA office rescinded his 16th technical foul.Doncic also picked up a 16th technical foul late in the 2022-23 season, which was also rescinded, resulting in him not having to serve a one-game suspension then either.
