Luka Doncic’s ejection in the fourth quarter turned a close game into a turning point the Lakers couldn’t recover from.
With under eight minutes left and the Lakers trailing the Thunder by one, Doncic drained a jumper. Moments later, he exchanged words near the sideline – prompting his second technical foul and an automatic ejection.
However, Doncic claimed he was talking to a fan, not the official.
“I never got a fan ejected, never, but if you’re gonna talk, I’m gonna talk back like always,” he said. “That had nothing to do with the ref.”
Luka Doncic on his ejection: pic.twitter.com/Wn5VTSszhE
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 9, 2025
LeBron James backed him up:
“Luca was going back and forth and the ref took it upon himself,” James said.
NBA reporter Dave McMenamin confirmed the exchange with the fan in question – Jeremy Price, known around the arena as the “courtside tattoo dude.” Price said he and Doncic had been jawing all game.
“I spoke to the fan named Jeremy Price, who goes by the courtside tattoo dude,” McMenamin said (5:12). “He told me that, yeah, he was exchanging verbal spars back and forth with Luka Doncic throughout the game, telling him that his shots, he was leaving them short. And then, obviously, Luka turned back around and shot a verbal spar back at him.”
This wasn’t the first run-in between Doncic and Price. Their courtside banter dates back to last year’s playoffs, according to McMenamin.
LeBron James called Luka Doncic’s ejection “weird as hell”
LeBron called the whole sequence “weird as hell,” especially when Jarred Vanderbilt picked up a technical foul shortly after blocking a shot. Without Luka Doncic on the floor, the Thunder took over.
“It was a weird couple minutes,” James said. “I don’t know why the ref was taking it personal. He had already gave Luka one and Luka knew that.”
King James had a solid performance against the Thunder, despite the Lakers’ loss:
- Points (PTS): 28
- Field Goals (FG): 8/19 (42.1% shooting)
- Rebounds (REB): 7
- Assists (AST): 3
Meanwhile, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lit up the scoreboard, finishing with 42 points to lead Oklahoma City to a 136–120 win. His dominant outing drew praise from Kendrick Perkins, who said it strengthened his MVP case.
Despite the controversy, the game had been tight. The Lakers erased an eight-point halftime deficit to briefly take the lead. Both teams traded blows in a fast-paced battle with playoff stakes.
But Doncic’s ejection stole the spotlight. It raised fresh concerns about player-fan interactions and how referees interpret those moments.
Looking ahead, the Lakers now head to Dallas – Luka Doncic’s old home. Emotions will run high, and LeBron stressed that backing Doncic with a win would be the perfect response.
READ: The Lakers Fall Behind in the West After Loss to Thunder
I am a writer passionate about telling the stories behind the game of basketball. From the culture and personalities shaping the sport to the moments that define it, I explore basketball beyond the box score.
