The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into an important stretch of the season, and one storyline surrounding Luka Doncic has begun drawing increased attention: his rising total of technical fouls.
Before a matchup with the Denver Nuggets, Lakers head coach JJ Redick addressed the issue directly, acknowledging that the star guard is well aware of the situation as the regular season intensifies.
Doncic has already accumulated 14 technical fouls during the 2025-26 campaign, putting him within striking distance of an automatic suspension if the number continues to climb.
Redick made it clear that the topic has not gone unnoticed within the team.
“He’s aware that he’s close. And he’s trying [to not draw more],” Redick said.
The NBA rulebook stipulates that once a player reaches 16 technical fouls during the regular season, a one-game suspension is automatically triggered.
After that point, every two additional technical fouls result in another one-game ban, creating a delicate balance for players who regularly play with emotion on the court.
For a player as central to the Lakers‘ success as Luka Doncic, even a single-game absence could carry significant consequences. The team is battling for playoff positioning in a crowded Western Conference, meaning every available game from its star playmaker matters.
Doncic‘s most recent technical came during a tense moment at the free-throw line against the New Orleans Pelicans.
After noticing what he believed was a lane violation from veteran center DeAndre Jordan, Doncic argued with officials when the call was not made. The continued complaints resulted in the technical foul that pushed his season total closer to the suspension threshold.
The incident highlighted a familiar pattern in Doncic‘s career: a relentless competitive edge that sometimes spills into prolonged debates with referees.
Why the technical foul count matters for the Lakers
While emotional intensity is often part of what makes great players successful, the timing of these technical fouls could be problematic for Los Angeles.
The Lakers are currently navigating a tight playoff race in the Western Conference, where even a brief absence from a franchise cornerstone could alter the team’s momentum. If Doncic were to reach the 16-technical threshold, the resulting suspension could force Los Angeles to play a crucial game without its offensive engine.
That risk explains why Redick‘s remarks conveyed awareness rather than alarm. The coach suggested the message has already been delivered internally and that Doncic understands the stakes.
It’s not the first time the Slovenian superstar has walked close to the line. Earlier in his career, including during his tenure with the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic frequently ranked among the league leaders in technical fouls as officials grew accustomed to his demonstrative reactions to calls.
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