Luka Doncic Issued Technical Foul for Profanity Towards Referee

Lakers star now one technical away from suspension after incident against Nuggets

Mar. 6, 2026 at 7:08am

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Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic was issued his 15th technical foul of the season during a game against the Denver Nuggets. Crew Chief Ed Malloy explained that Doncic received the technical for using profanity towards a referee. If Doncic receives one more technical foul, he will be suspended for one game.

Why it matters

Technical fouls are an important part of NBA discipline, as players can be suspended if they accumulate too many over the course of a season. Doncic's history of technical fouls has been a point of concern, and this latest incident highlights the need for the star player to maintain his composure on the court.

The details

According to Crew Chief Ed Malloy, Doncic was issued the technical foul for using profanity towards a referee. Malloy stated that officials are trained not to stop an offensive transition when calling a technical on the defense. Prior to the game, Doncic's head coach JJ Redick had said the player is mindful of his technical foul count and will try to avoid drawing more.

  • The technical foul was issued during the Lakers' game against the Nuggets on March 6, 2026.

The players

Luka Doncic

A superstar player for the Los Angeles Lakers who has accumulated a high number of technical fouls this NBA season.

Ed Malloy

The crew chief referee who explained the reason for issuing the technical foul to Doncic.

JJ Redick

The head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers who stated Doncic is mindful of his technical foul count.

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What they’re saying

“Doncic was issued a technical foul for using profanity towards a referee. We are trained not to stop an offensive transition when calling a technical foul on the defense.”

— Ed Malloy, Crew Chief

“Doncic is mindful of his technical foul counts and will attempt not to draw more calls.”

— JJ Redick, Head Coach

What’s next

If Doncic receives one more technical foul, he will be suspended for one game.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for star players like Doncic to maintain their composure on the court, as technical fouls can lead to suspensions that impact their team's performance. It also underscores the importance of officials enforcing the rules consistently, even against high-profile players.