JJ Redick’s ‘special’ Luka Doncic mic drop amid referee interactions

LOS ANGELES – During the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-113 loss against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, Luka Doncic picked up his 15th technical foul of the season amid more interactions with the referees. One more technical foul and Doncic will automatically receive a one-game suspension. But amid his interactions on the court, Lakers head coach JJ Redick believes Doncic’s competitive fire is second to none.

Prior to the Lakers’ game against the Indiana Pacers on Friday, JJ Redick spoke about how he’ll go to battle with Doncic every night.

“He’s a special kind of player, a special kind of person and a special kind of competitor,” Redick said during his pregame press conference. “I would much rather have someone who is trying to go out every night and kill, than someone that you have to literally revive with the defibrillator every other day. I’ll take Luka all day long.”

Doncic’s latest interaction with the referees resulted in a technical foul that was somewhat puzzling. Jamal Murray hit a 3-point shot in transition, and the one of the officials immediately signaled a technical foul on Doncic despite him not even looking the referee’s way upon heading back up-court.

Doncic was incredibly bewildered at what had transpired, and a complete explanation was not given until after the game via the pool report. Crew chief Ed Malloy explained that the technical foul on Doncic actually occurred before the play, but that the officials are not supposed to stop a transition play for a technical foul called on the defense. The rationale was that Doncic used profanity towards the officials in the play prior.

The Lakers have 19 games remaining in the regular season after Friday’s matchup against the Pacers. The team will certainly have to be cognizant of Doncic’s technical fouls and reactions during the final stretch of the year. Once the playoffs arrive, the technical foul count resets, but a suspension is triggered quicker with seven.

Doncic has been in the running for the MVP Award this season, his first full year with the Lakers. Coming into Friday’s game, he had appeared in 50 games at a little over 35 minutes per game. He’s been averaging a league-leading 32.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.4 steals with splits of 47.3 percent shooting from the field, 35.8 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 77 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Doncic is also leading the NBA in 3-point shots made (3.7), 3-point shots attempted (10.2) and free-throws attempted (10.3).

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