Photo: Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Born in Slovenia · Nationality Slovenian — Sport / basketball

Luka Dončić

Documented profile covering 11 controversies, including “2019: kicks ball into stands, second technical foul, ejection and fine” and “2020 playoffs: throws ball at referee's legs and receives $15,000 fine”.

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Profile No. 1682 · Updated on 12 October 2026

11Documented controversies

13Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

2026-03-08–2026-03-10

2026: further inappropriate gesture towards referee and $50,000 NBA fine

Civil / administrative proceedings

During a Lakers game against the Knicks, Dončić directed a gesture towards a referee that was considered inappropriate and unprofessional. The NBA fined him $50,000.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
NBA.comLuka Dončić fined $50K by NBA for actions toward official in game vs. KnicksSports governing bodyVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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2026-03-21–2026-03-30

2026: sixteen-technical-foul threshold — one foul rescinded, followed by actual suspension a week later

Civil / administrative proceedings

An initial sixteenth technical foul assessed against Orlando was rescinded by the NBA, avoiding suspension at that point. A few days later, Dončić received a further technical foul counted as his sixteenth of the season and was automatically suspended for one game without pay.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
NBA.com / Associated PressLakers star Luka Dončić set to play after 16th tech rescindedNews agencyHigh reliability
[2]
NBA.comLakers' Luka Dončić suspended 1 game for receiving his 16th technicalSports governing bodyVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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2025-02–2025-11

2025: secret Mavericks trade to Lakers amid reported criticism of his fitness

No legal proceedings

Dallas shocked the NBA by trading Dončić to the Lakers in a package centred on Anthony Davis. Media reports attributed part of the decision to management concerns over his fitness, durability and the cost of a future supermax extension, triggering prolonged fan protests.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 2

[1]
Los Angeles TimesWhy the frustrated Mavericks offered Luka Doncic to the LakersPressHigh reliability
[2]
Associated PressMavericks fire GM Nico Harrison 9 months after widely panned Luka Doncic tradeNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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2025-04-08–2025-04-09

2025: ejected against Oklahoma City before second technical foul is rescinded

Civil / administrative proceedings

Dončić was ejected against Oklahoma City after a second technical foul, with referees believing that a remark had been directed at an official. Dončić and a spectator maintained that he had actually been addressing the spectator.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
ReutersNBA rescinds second technical on Luka Doncic against ThunderNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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2024-02-22

2024: technical foul for forcefully throwing ball towards referee

Civil / administrative proceedings

Against Phoenix, Dončić received a technical foul for abruptly throwing the ball with force towards a referee. The crew chief clarified that the decision was based solely on that action.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
NBA OfficialPool Report on the Technical Foul Issued to Luka DoncicSports governing bodyVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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2023-03

2023: money gesture towards referee and $35,000 NBA fine

Civil / administrative proceedings

Following the closing stages of a game against Golden State, Dončić made a money-related gesture towards a referee. The NBA sanctioned him for an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture towards an official.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
NBA.comLuka Doncic fined $35,000 for inappropriate gesture at game officialSports governing bodyVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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2022-04

2022: sixteenth technical foul initially triggers suspension, subsequently rescinded by NBA

Civil / administrative proceedings

Dončić had received what would have been his sixteenth technical foul of the season, the threshold automatically triggering a one-game suspension. Following review, the NBA rescinded the technical foul and allowed him to play in the regular-season finale.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
NBA.com / Associated PressLuka Doncic can play in Mavericks’ finale after NBA rescinds 16th techNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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2021-05-02

2021: two technical fouls and ejection against Sacramento

Civil / administrative proceedings

Dončić received a first technical foul for a reaction considered disrespectful towards a referee following an offensive foul, then a second for throwing the ball the length of the court in a manner considered unsportsmanlike.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
NBA OfficialPool Report on the ejections of Rick Carlisle and Luka DoncicSports governing bodyVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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2021-08-05

2021 Tokyo Olympics: attacks FIBA after semi-final defeat to France

No legal proceedings

Following Slovenia's defeat to France in the Olympic semi-final, Dončić criticised several officiating decisions and said that FIBA must be happy with the result, suggesting that the governing body had benefited from the outcome.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Personally implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
L'ÉquipeLe Slovène Luka Doncic, battu par la France : « La FIBA doit être heureuse »PressHigh reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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2020-08–2020-09

2020 playoffs: throws ball at referee's legs and receives $15,000 fine

Civil / administrative proceedings

During Game 6 against the Clippers, Dončić threw the ball at a referee's legs. He received a technical foul and the NBA fined him $15,000.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
NBA.comLuka Doncic, Marcus Morris, Sr. fined for incidents in Game 6Sports governing bodyVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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2019-01

2019: kicks ball into stands, second technical foul, ejection and fine

Civil / administrative proceedings

Dončić kicked the game ball into the stands against Indiana. The action earned him a second technical foul and an ejection, followed by a $10,000 NBA fine.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
NBA.comNBA fines Doncic $10K for kicking ball into stands vs. PacersSports governing bodyVery high reliability

Last verified: 13 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

III. Has something changed?

A new court decision, a missing source, a mistake? Tell us what should be updated: every request is read by the editorial team.