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Luka Doncic Was Ejected After Yelling at Crowd and NBA Fans Couldn't Believe It
Luka Doncic was sent for an early shower on Tuesday night during the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Oklahoma City Thunder after he appeared to yell something at a fan, only for the referee to mistakenly think Doncic was berating him.
After making an incredibly tough basket in the paint to give the Lakers a late 108–107 lead, Doncic turned and could be seen bellowing something in the direction of the crowd.
Whatever he said did not sit well with referee JT Orr, who proceeded to stop play and hit Doncic with a technical. It was his second of the game, and thus, resulted in an ejection.
LUKA EJECTED.
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) April 9, 2025
pic.twitter.com/UpVtMOiHNG
Doncic looked bewildered when the whistle was blown, and after realizing that he was getting ejected from the game, his expression turned to one of utter disbelief.
He wasn't the only one surprised by the ejection. Every Lakers player on the court immediately ran over to Orr to protest his decision. Meanwhile, fans on social media voiced their displeasure with the officiating.
Throwing Luka out here is absolute officiating malpractice.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) April 9, 2025
He was barking at a fan after a made basket.
Just truly outrageous.
The fan and Luka are known for playfully talking shit every time Luka visits OKC. But the nearby ref was sensitive. Truly pathetic. https://t.co/I8n5v8NJFa
— Jason Gallagher (@jga41agher) April 9, 2025
That fan in OKC who just got Luka ejected deserves at least a 5th place MVP vote. Got the ref to think Luka’s venom was directed at him. 10/10 bait.
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 9, 2025
Refs have WAYYYYY to much power.
— Famouslos32 (@famouslos32) April 9, 2025
Luka just got kicked out for talking to a fan !
Bad Luka ejection, refs have main character syndrome.
— Niko (@nikotaughtyou) April 9, 2025
Ruined a good game.
I just watched Draymond elbow a dude in the face in front of an official and stay in the game.
— Raj C. (@RajChipalu) April 9, 2025
Luka getting thrown out for that is total BS
I honestly think that's the worst ejection i've seen in the NBA in years.
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) April 9, 2025
You can see the dope in the jersey and glasses and hat standing and yelling and the ref was right near him
Come on, Luka and the Lakers got jobbed here
They were gonna beat OKC twice
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Karl Rasmussen is a staff writer for the Breaking and Trending News team for Sports Illustrated. A University of Oregon alum who joined SI in February 2023, his work has appeared on 12up and ClutchPoints. Rasmussen is a loyal Tottenham, Jets, Yankees and Ducks fan.