Lakers guard Luka Doncic was ejected from Tuesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder after an official thought he was directing profanity at a referee. However, Doncic claims he was only talking to a courtside fan who had been trash-talking him.
According to ESPN, the fan, Jeremy Price, referred to himself as “The Courtside Tattoo Dude” and said that Doncic responded with an expletive after Price made a comment about his short shot. The referee, J.T. Orr, saw this and issued Doncic a technical foul.
Doncic stated that he often engages with opposing fans without security intervening and claims the ejection had nothing to do with him. He will now face a significant challenge in his return to Dallas on Wednesday, as he was part of a trade that brought Anthony Davis to the Lakers.
Despite the emotional situation, Lakers forward LeBron James reassured Doncic that they would support him no matter what. “It’s our job just to do our job,” James said. The Lakers are now focused on their next game and aim to secure a playoff spot with two wins from their remaining three games.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44597300