Luka Dončić has gained notoriety for his fiery antics toward referees, whether in the NBA or international play. Many basketball stars, Dončić included, build part of their game on drawing contact from defenders, leaving the fate of possessions up to officials.
His most recent spat with referees happened during the EuroBasket tournament, when the Los Angeles Lakers star’s Slovenia team lost to Latvia 100-88.
Luka Dončić Caught Mouthing Off to Referees
After Slovenia’s loss, Dončić was captured on the broadcast approaching referees and appearing to yell at them. While only lip readers could decipher what he said (and it likely wasn’t in English), it was clear the Lakers star was unhappy.
Afterward, Dončić greeted former Dallas Mavericks teammate Kristaps Porziņģis, who led Latvia with a team-high 20 points, six rebounds, and two assists. Another former Maverick, Davis Bertans, added 16 points.
Luka has some words for the ref after the game pic.twitter.com/542BMGk9CQ
— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) August 16, 2025
It was a frustrating night for Dončić, who had a stellar start with 26 points in just 17 minutes. However, he sat out most of the second half after suffering a right knee contusion. Lakers and Slovenia fans can breathe easy, though: According to reporter Dan Woike, the injury was not significant, and Dončić plans to continue playing in EuroBasket.
Dončić’s fiery demeanor is nothing new. In the 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 NBA seasons, he racked up 15 technical fouls each year. Last season, he totaled 13, including eight after his trade to the Lakers.
While he has spent the summer working on his game and physique, Dončić may also need to work on his temperament. Antagonizing referees could hurt him, as officials may be less inclined to give him calls. And if he fixates on missed whistles, it could create an advantage for opponents in transition.
Slovenia will compete in Group D of EuroBasket, which features Poland, France, Belgium, Iceland, and Israel.
In preparation, Slovenia played warmup games against Germany, Lithuania, and Latvia, but dropped all of them to date, leaving the team winless at 0-4 in exhibition play.
Next up, Slovenia will face Great Britain on Aug. 19 and Serbia on Aug. 21 in their final tune-ups before the tournament. They will then begin their EuroBasket campaign with Poland on Aug. 28, France on Aug. 30, Belgium on Aug. 31, Iceland on Sept. 2, and Israel on Sept. 4.
Dončić’s timeline for a return is still uncertain after his recent injury scare, but regardless, Slovenia must figure it out if they want to pick up wins.
