NBA Referee Admitted Bias Against Lakers Star Luka Doncic?
NBA Referee Admitted Bias Against Lakers Star Luka Doncic?
Luka Doncic’s ejection during the Lakers’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 8, 2025, has sparked significant controversy. The incident occurred in the fourth quarter when referee J.T. Orr issued Doncic a second technical foul, resulting in his automatic ejection. At the time, the Lakers held a narrow 108-107 lead.
The ejection stemmed from what appears to be a misunderstanding. Doncic reportedly directed comments toward a fan sitting courtside after making a basket. However, Orr, positioned near the fan, interpreted Doncic’s remarks as being directed at him and promptly issued the technical foul.
This was particularly impactful because Doncic had already received his first technical foul from Orr in the third quarter for comments made during play. The timing proved devastating for the Lakers, who subsequently collapsed and were outscored 29-12 following Doncic’s departure, ultimately losing 136-120.
Jarred Vanderbilt says when Luka Doncic picked up his first technical foul, referee J.T. Orr said he would “talk to anybody but Luka.” Vanderbilt said that the techs Doncic received “seem personal” pic.twitter.com/v7UGsaO8JW
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 9, 2025
Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt raised serious concerns about potential bias. According to Vanderbilt, after issuing Doncic’s first technical foul, Orr allegedly stated he would “talk to anybody but Luka.” Vanderbilt, who also received a technical from Orr for taunting Thunder player Alex Caruso, characterized the officiating decisions as “personal.”
Official Explanation vs. Team Perception:
| Perspective | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Tony Brothers (Crew Chief) | First technical: “profanity at a game official” |
| Second technical: “looked directly at an official and used vulgar language” | |
| Lakers Players | Suggested the calls were “personal” against Doncic |
| Believed Doncic was speaking to a fan, not an official |
Orr, a 13-year NBA officiating veteran with approximately 600 games of experience before this season, now finds himself at the center of controversy. This incident adds to existing concerns among some Lakers supporters about perceived officiating bias against the team.
The ejection’s timing was particularly unfortunate for Doncic and the Lakers, as it occurred on the eve of Doncic’s return to Dallas, where he had previously been the franchise cornerstone before joining Los Angeles.
The NBA typically reviews such controversial ejections, particularly those involving star players. Any official statement regarding potential discipline or acknowledgment of error would likely come in the following days as the league examines the game footage and circumstances surrounding the incident.
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
