Luka Doncic history with referees, explained: Inside Mavericks star’s reputation for complaining to NBA officials | Sporting News Canada

The NBA Finals puts a spotlight on every player participating, and Luka Doncic might have the brightest stage of them all.

Making his NBA Finals debut at 25, the Mavericks star is knocking on the door of all-time greatness. He already has five First-Team All-NBA honors and picked up his first career scoring title this season. He was rewarded as Western Conference Finals MVP after averaging 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game to defeat the Timberwolves.

Now, he will be tasked with dethroning a Celtics team that has owned the best record in the NBA for the majority of the season.

With all eyes on Doncic, fans will certainly notice how uniquely talented he is as a scorer and passer. They may also notice the biggest blemish of his game — Doncic complains to the officials a lot.

Why is Doncic always begging for foul calls with the referees? The Sporting News takes a closer look below.

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Luka Doncic explains remedy for complaining to NBA referees

Doncic is constantly pleading his case for foul calls with NBA officials. You’ll notice he usually has something to say as he’s running up the court or will confront the refs and motion his hands while yelling during a stoppage in play.

Doncic has been toward the top of the league in technical fouls since he entered the NBA in 2018. In 2022, he pledged to try and take a step back with his complaining.

“It’s a funny thing — I just start singing a song in my head,” Doncic told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon as a remedy to his barking at the officials. “One of my favorite songs I pick and just start singing and let [the frustration] pass.”

Doncic went on to explain that Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki was the one who gave him that idea, saying Dirk used to sing to himself before free throws.

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Doncic also admitted he needed to stop complaining to the refs on J.J. Redick’s “Old Man and the Three” podcast that same year.

“Well, I had a little talk with myself. Real talk, it was unacceptable no more, the way I was acting,” Doncic told Redick in 2022. “Maybe some of my personal issues or everything, but I had a talk with myself and I just said, this can’t keep going. It’s a really bad look. I knew I was doing this, but I kept doing it. So, it’s over. It’s over now. I had a talk with myself. No more, man.”

Doncic hasn’t exactly held true to that statement. His 19 technical fouls led the NBA this season, according to Team Rankings. He has also picked up two more in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Luka Doncic technical foul history

Doncic has tallied 78 regular season technical fouls and nine playoff technical fouls in his career, according to ESPN stats.

Doncic served the biggest fine of his career last season, paying $35,000 for making a money sign gesture at an official during the Mavericks’ loss to the Warriors back on March 22, 2023.

He has also paid a $15,000 fine for throwing the basketball at an official during a 2020 playoff game against the Clippers and a $10,000 fine for kicking the ball into the stands during a regular season game against the Pacers in 2019.

Luka Doncic ejection history

Doncic has been ejected four times in his NBA career, according to Spotrac.  He has never been ejected from a playoff game.