The Los Angeles Lakers are gearing up to host the Washington Wizards, but they'll be without their All-NBA star, Luka Doncic. Following a heated matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, Doncic picked up his 16th technical foul of the season, resulting in a one-game suspension.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick shared his thoughts on the suspension, emphasizing Doncic's dedication to the game. "He's disappointed," Redick remarked.
"He always wants to be there for his teammates. He's the type who plays through anything, just like when we were in Dallas together."
Redick, who retired in 2021 after a 15-year NBA career, took the reins as the Lakers' head coach in 2024. Doncic's journey to Los Angeles was a blockbuster move in early 2025, shaking up the league.
After the game against the Nets, Doncic expressed his frustration over the technical foul. "He was yelling in my face three times," Doncic explained.
"I just wanted to get out of there. The push was exaggerated, obviously."
Despite the drama, Doncic delivered an impressive performance, racking up 41 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals. This stat line not only highlights his talent but also places him in elite company.
Doncic became the first Laker since Kobe Bryant in 2012-13 to notch 100 steals in a season. Additionally, he's the only Laker ever to achieve over 2,000 points, 500 assists, and 100 steals in one season.
Doncic is on the brink of securing his second NBA scoring title, averaging 33.7 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals over 62 games.
Currently sitting as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, the Lakers have eight games left. While missing the game against the Wizards might not be critical, the upcoming matchups are significant. They'll face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder twice and have a highly anticipated game against Doncic's former team, the Dallas Mavericks, before the playoffs begin on April 18.