NBA Rescinds Doncic’s Controversial Ejection Amid Lakers’ Loss

LOS ANGELES, CA – The NBA announced Wednesday it has rescinded the second technical foul assessed to Luka Dončić during a heated game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. The ejection has drawn significant attention as it occurred during the fourth quarter of a closely contested match.

With 7:40 left in the game and the Los Angeles Lakers leading 108-107, Dončić was whistled for his second technical foul by referee J.T. Orr. This dismissal came amidst confusion as Dončić insisted his remarks were directed at a courtside fan, not the officiating crew. Dončić stated, “I never got a fan ejected, never… So I didn’t really understand,” highlighting the interaction he had with the fan instead of the official.

The game shifted dramatically after Dončić’s ejection. The Thunder capitalized on the situation, finishing the match with a 29-12 run to win 136-120. This outcome had major implications for the Lakers, as a win would have solidified their playoff position.

Referee Tony Brothers, in a post-game pool report, maintained that Dončić had, “directed profanity at a game official,” for both technical fouls. The first occurred earlier in the third quarter when Dončić argued that a foul was missed against Lakers forward LeBron James on a previous possession. Brothers described the second foul as Dončić “looked directly at an official and used vulgar language.”

Jeremy Price, the fan involved in the incident, referred to himself as “The Courtside Tattoo Dude.” He claimed the exchange was light-hearted, stating, “During the game within the game, I mentioned that he was short [on his shot] and he missed it, and he turned around and shot an expletive back.” Price suggested that Orr possibly misconstrued the playful nature of their banter as disrespect towards the officiating.

LeBron James, in his post-game remarks, sided with Dončić’s perspective, emphasizing that the interaction with fans is part of the game. He noted, “I don’t know why the ref was taking it personal. Luka was going back and forth with a fan that was sitting courtside.”

The implications of Dončić’s ejection are significant. Not only did it transform the momentum of the game, but it also marked his 14th technical foul of the season, putting him just two away from a one-game suspension. However, with the technical now rescinded, he stands three away from that threshold.

The Lakers, currently holding a precarious position in the Western Conference as the No. 3 seed, face the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, where Dončić will return to Dallas for the first time since his trade. He expressed a mix of excitement and anxiety about the upcoming match, saying, “There’s going to be a lot of emotion for me… I’m looking forward to being back in Dallas, obviously, with the fans, seeing my teammates—ex-teammates.”

The NBA’s decision to rescind the technical foul does not alter the outcome of Tuesday’s game but raises ongoing discussions about the nature of officiating and player interactions with fans during games.