Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers can take a loss, but what about when the referees make it look lopsided? That’s where fans draw the line.
The 111-108 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday had Lakers fans fuming, not just because of the upset but because of what they saw as unfair officiating against Dončić. A 30-19 free-throw disparity? A 16-2 gap in attempts at halftime? Yeah, some NBA fans weren’t going to let that slide. And neither was Dončić.
Dončić Calls Out the Refs: “It Was Unfair”
After the game, Dončić was hesitant but hinted at some doubts, calling the refs out for their questionable calls—or rather, their lack of calls.
“It was a lot. It was unfair,” Dončićsaid. “We still gotta play, I gotta keep playing the game. But it was a lot, man. I ain’t gonna lie.”
The frustration was obvious. Dončić played through contact all night, constantly driving into the lane, only to see the whistle swallowed on multiple plays. He finished with just three out of four free-throw attempts, despite taking 12 shots in the paint.
But the worst no-call of the night? The off-ball shove from Nets center Nicolas Claxton, who blatantly pushed Dončić with both hands to gain an advantage on the glass. No whistle. No review.
With Dončić already nursing a back injury, Lakers fans saw that no-call as straight-up dangerous—and social media erupted.
Lakers Fans Go Off: “Refs Literally Hate Luka”
If there’s one thing NBA Twitter won’t ignore, it’s bad officiating—especially when it involves Dončić.
As soon as the game ended, the video of Doncic taking the shove went viral. Lakers fans took to X to unleash their frustration.
One fan questioned if the officials had any personal animosity towards Dončić, stating, “Refs literally hate Luka smh”
Refs literally hate Luka smh
— zaiire 💫 (@_zaiire_) March 11, 2025
While another demanded some serious repercussions for such ignorance, “prison for both those officials wouldn’t be enough lade”
prison for both those officials wouldn’t be enough lade
— Lakers Better (@LakersBetter) March 11, 2025
Fans even asked the Lakers to retaliate: “If LA doesn’t find a Laker willing to step up and throw hands when something like this happens it’ll never stop.”
If LA doesn’t find a Laker willing to step up and throw hands when something like this happens it’ll never stop.
— JDMM (@zjdmm1) March 12, 2025
This isn’t the first time officiating woes on Dončić have been a topic of discussion. Even back in Dallas, his former coach Jason Kidd called him out multiple times for his ongoing battles with refs.
But this? This was different. This time, it wasn’t about Dončić complaining—it was about the blatant non-calls affecting the game’s outcome.
With the Lakers slipping down the standings, every game matters. And if Dončić isn’t going to get the whistle other NBA stars get, the frustration is only going to grow.
Because come on, nobody wants playoff basketball decided by the refs, right?