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Reading: Lakers Teammates Slam Referees For Luka Doncic Ejection In Loss To Thunder – “Seemed Personal”
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Los Angeles Lakers News & Analysis > Lakers Teammates Slam Referees For Luka Doncic Ejection In Loss To Thunder – “Seemed Personal”

Lakers Teammates Slam Referees For Luka Doncic Ejection In Loss To Thunder – “Seemed Personal”

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to a devastating 136-120 loss to the OKC Thunder, where the referees seemed to have taken over the result.

Ishaan Bhattacharya
Apr 9, 2025
4 Min Read
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Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers and OKC Thunder were having one of the best games of the month with a close back-and-forth clash with just one-point separating them with half of the fourth quarter left. However, that’s when the referees decided to eject Luka Doncic, who was trash-talking with the fans, but the referee (J.T. Orr) assumed it was aimed at him.

Lakers teammate and leader LeBron James stuck up for Doncic, calling the ejection personally motivated and saying that the game’s energy became ‘weird’ with the referees after that moment.

“It was a weird couple of minutes after the ejection. I don’t know why the ref was taking it personal. He already gave Luka one, and he knew that. Luka was going back and forth with a fan who was sitting courtside, like Luka does when fans talk s**t. Luka was going back-and-forth, but the ref took it upon himself to think it was on him. Another tech on Vando after a blocked shot, and the game was just weird as hell after that moment.”

“I don’t know why the ref was taking it personal”

– LeBron says ref made the game ‘weird as hell’ pic.twitter.com/FHr9Sa886A

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 9, 2025

James touched upon Jarred Vanderbilt’s issues with the referees as well. However, the forward was still concerned about how Doncic was treated. He revealed what went down for Doncic’s first technical foul at the hands of referee Orr, who Vando claims openly admitted a bias against Doncic.

“He felt I got fouled, which I did… He was telling the referee that’s what happens, and the ref told me, ‘I’ll talk to anybody but Luka.’ It seemed a little personal at that point. He told me he would talk to anyone on our team but Luka.”

Jarred Vanderbilt says when Luka Doncic picked up his first technical foul, referee J.T. Orr said he would “talk to anybody but Luka.” Vanderbilt said that the techs Doncic received “seem personal” pic.twitter.com/v7UGsaO8JW

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 9, 2025

The NBA needs to find a way to police its officials better. Any NBA player or coach who criticizes the referees gets fined aggressively, but there’s no way to ensure that coaches are held accountable after such instances. 

Doncic’s trash-talk with the courtside fan, later identified as Jeremy Price, predates Doncic’s Lakers tenure. The fan admitted he and Doncic have been sharing verbal jabs whenever he comes to OKC since his time on the Dallas Mavericks, primarily their 2024 Playoff matchup where Luka’s Mavericks won.

The only tool to keep the referees accountable is the Pool Report, with referee Tony Brothers confirming that Doncic was ejected for aiming profanity at the referee.

Lakers vs. Thunder Pool Report - Luka Doncic Ejection

Just because Brothers said it doesn’t make that the truth. The referee, Luka’s teammates, and Luka himself have confirmed that his words were directed to a single fan with whom he has a trash-talking rapport.

Doncic wound up taking ownership of his actions, absolving the referee and claiming it was his fault for getting ejected.

“You can see what happened. I’ve never gotten a fan ejected. If he’s gonna talk, I’m gonna talk back. I didn’t really understand… It was tough, we were right there. We fought the whole game… It was tough to see this kind of situation happen, so that’s on me too. I can’t let my team down like that.”

Luka on the 4th quarter ejection:
"That had nothing to do with the ref… it was tough, we were right there. That's on me too."

Don't forget, catch live #LakeShow games on Spectrum SportsNet+ with the NBA app, on us! 🔗: https://t.co/k8Sa1tLkWs pic.twitter.com/kZieFBvxYE

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) April 9, 2025

It’s quite ridiculous that we’re seeing primetime NBA games get ruined by such officiating calls. The Thunder were on the precipice of putting the game away as the Lakers’ shooting got cold, but now even they can’t claim their revenge win without an asterisk. 

It’s a very dissatisfying ending to a marquee NBA matchup, and the league should address it, although they won’t.

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TAGGED:Jarred VanderbiltLeBron JamesLos Angeles Lakers ArchiveLuka Doncic
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ByIshaan Bhattacharya
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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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