A new reality for the Lakers in the Luka Dončić era will be the accumulation of technical fouls. After years of having LeBron James and Anthony Davis as the faces of the franchise — two players who did not often complain to officials or accumulate technicals — life with Luka will be different.
On Saturday, Luka was assessed his 16th technical foul of the season on a double technical with Magic center Goga Bitadze, the magic number that will result in a one-game suspension, meaning he will not be available
for the Lakers’ game against the Pistons on Monday.
It’s possible that Luka’s technical could be rescinded. There was nothing particularly egregious about the moments leading up to the technical as it came after trash talking between Luka and Bitadze. But it will have to be a decision that comes quickly with the Lakers set to play the Pistons on Monday.
League rules state that, at 16 technical fouls, players will be suspended for one game. For every other technical after that, he will be suspended for another game. So, for his 18th, 20th, 22nd, etc., technical fouls, he will be suspended for a game.
In short, it’s less than ideal.
Prior to the Lakers’ game against the Nuggets on March 5, head coach JJ Redick spoke about Luka, who entered the contest with 14 technical fouls.
Naturally, he picked up a technical foul in that game.
This is not new for Luka. Back in 2023, he was nearly suspended. In fact, he was originally assessed a 16th technical before having it rescinded. In each of the two seasons prior to that, Luka also finished with 15 technical fouls.
In those instances, Luka’s 15th technical came late in the season. That was not the case for the Lakers, who still had 20 games remaining when Luka moved to within a game of an automatic suspension.
Given the prior evidence, this is going to be something Lakers fans are going to have to monitor in the coming years of the Luka era.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
