Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic, who has vowed to avoid an automatic one-game suspension by being called for his 16th technical foul of the season, acknowledged Thursday that he has been “complaining way too much.”
Doncic addressed the issue during his postgame interview with the TNT crew after the Mavericks’ 113-109 win over the Brooklyn Nets and elaborated in a virtual media availability minutes later.
“I realize it,” Doncic said. “It’s something that I’m not supposed to do. [It’s difficult] with all the emotions in games, but obviously I’ve got to stop. It’s just hard for me on the court with all the emotions, but I realize it and I’ve got to work on this. It’s tough to do it, but I’ve got to work on it and be way better than this.”
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Doncic made similar comments in December 2019, saying, “I’ve just got to learn to calm myself down and go on to the next play.” He received 13 technical fouls during the 2019-20 season, tying for the seventh most in the NBA.
Though Doncic has been called for 16 technical fouls this season, the one he received for yelling, “And-1!” during an April 2 win over the New York Knicks was later rescinded by the league office and does not count toward his official total. He has been called for 10 technical fouls in 28 games since the All-Star break.
Players are automatically suspended for a game after receiving 16 technical fouls in the regular season, and every two technical fouls after that result in another one-game suspension. Those totals do not carry over into the playoffs, when players are suspended a game after their seventh technical foul of the postseason.
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