Luka Doncic is going through a rough patch since his shocking arrival to the Lakers, and fans aren’t letting him forget it. This was easily the most unexpected trade of the season-no one saw it coming. But whatever momentum he had coming in seems to have faded. The Lakers are now on a two-game losing streak, and with injuries piling up-including LeBron James being sidelined-it’s been a tough stretch for the team.
The Lakers have a target on their back, and with a superstar like Luka joining their ranks, that target has only grown bigger. A struggling Lakers squad is an opportunity for the rest of the league, and some rivals aren’t shying away from trying to exploit that. But when Nic Claxton blatantly shoved Luka in a cold-blooded move, it was a step too far-one that didn’t sit well with fans in attendance.
Pushed to the limit
To be fair, Luka might have sold the push a little, but there’s a reason for that. He’s learned that if he doesn’t make a scene, the referees won’t even blink. It’s not necessarily about opponents trying to injure him-it’s about baiting him into frustration, getting under his skin, and pushing him to the point where he lashes out at the officials. A little extra dramatics? Sure. But it’s all part of the game within the game.
Regardless, the refs completely ignored the blatant shove. This isn’t new for Luka-he’s been dealing with a lack of calls in his favor for several games now. His frustration with the officiating has been mounting, and rightfully so. The whistles just aren’t going his way, and at this point, it feels intentional.
Can Luka catch a break?
It’s becoming increasingly clear that Doncic isn’t going to get the benefit of the whistle anytime soon. This is something opposing teams can take advantage of, knowing they can be more physical without much consequence. The Slovenian star has had his fair share of run-ins with the refs, but so far, his protests have fallen on deaf ears.
And the Lakers need every break they can get. With LeBron out, every call-or lack thereof-makes a difference. But Luka and Austin Reaves didn’t help their case either, struggling to find their shooting rhythm. If they don’t turn things around soon, the Lakers could be looking at a much bigger problem than just a couple of missed calls.