Lakers' Luka Doncic Alleges Magic Player Made Explicit Remark About His Family

Doncic says he reacted after Orlando's Goga Bitadze made an inappropriate comment in Serbian.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:55pm

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Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic and Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze got into a heated verbal altercation during their game on Saturday night. Doncic said Bitadze made an explicit remark about his family, which prompted Doncic's reaction and a technical foul. Bitadze acknowledged repeating back to Doncic what he had said in Serbian, but denied making any direct comments about Doncic's family.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the intense emotions and tensions that can arise during high-stakes NBA games, as well as the challenges of cross-cultural communication on the court. It also raises questions about how the league will handle Doncic's technical foul, which could lead to a one-game suspension if not rescinded.

The details

The verbal exchange occurred in the third quarter of the Lakers-Magic game, which the Lakers won 105-104 on a last-second shot by Luke Kennard. Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul of the season during the incident with Bitadze. Doncic said Bitadze made an explicit remark about his family, which prompted Doncic's reaction. Bitadze acknowledged repeating back to Doncic what he had said in Serbian, but denied making any direct comments about Doncic's family.

  • The incident occurred in the third quarter of the Lakers-Magic game on Saturday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Luka Doncic

A star player for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Goga Bitadze

A center for the Orlando Magic.

Luke Kennard

A player for the Los Angeles Lakers who hit the game-winning shot.

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What they’re saying

“I'm definitely hoping [it is rescinded]. Obviously, I let my team down getting that last tech. But honestly, I wasn't trying to. [Bitadze] said at the free throw, he would f--- my whole family. And at some point, this is a basketball court. At some point, I just can't stand it. I got to stand up for myself. But I know I got to do better.”

— Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers Star

“I have all the respect for Luka and what he has done. And I really respect everybody's family. Where I come from, it's really sacred and we really respect each other's families, and I would never directly say that. He just said some inappropriate things in the Serbian language, which, I played in Serbia, I understand. I don't know if he knew I understood what he said. So, I just said it back. And it was nothing towards his family or anybody. His family, I really, truly respect them.”

— Goga Bitadze, Orlando Magic Center

What’s next

The NBA will review Doncic's technical foul and determine if it should be rescinded, which would prevent him from having to serve a one-game suspension.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the intense emotions and cross-cultural dynamics that can arise during NBA games, as well as the league's challenge in maintaining sportsmanship and professionalism on the court. It also raises questions about how the NBA will handle technical fouls and disciplinary actions going forward.