Being a referee in today’s NBA is difficult, given how stars have gotten sneaky with how they get to the free throw line. An example of that is Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic, as he knows plenty of ways to draw fouls and sometimes looks to draw contact more than making a shot.
That is viewed by many a flaw in Doncic’s game, as he relies on referees to make a call he is accustomed to getting and sometimes they do not call it. That can result in the Lakers star getting upset with the officials, taking him out of the play and even potentially getting a technical foul.
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle is as familiar with Doncic’s game as anyone having coached him in Dallas. When asked about the Lakers star’s competitive spirit before Friday night’s game, Carlisle not only came to Doncic’s defense, but even went as far to say he’s a future MVP and the best player he has ever coached.
“He’s a fiery competitor,” Carlisle said before the game. “I don’t see that changing… Look, he’s great. He’s the greatest player I’ve ever coached, just in terms of his sheer ability. He’ll be an MVP. And listen, I gotta be careful, I coached Dirk Nowitzki, who’s in the Hall of Fame, who’s seventh on the all-time scoring list, we won a championship together. But Luka is just the extra special of the most extra special, just in terms of everything he can do on a basketball floor. And he has amazing charisma too. You show me a great player who isn’t stubborn and doesn’t get pissed off at things, I’ll show you a guy that’s not a great player. That’s just the way it is.”
In every NBA game, there are several occasions where the league’s top talent are arguing with referees about a call or a call that should have been made. It is not solely a Doncic problem, but given his status and the team he plays for, he garners more attention than most.
For Carlisle to come to Doncic’s defense is nice to see because as of late, there have been plenty of negative conversations surrounding the Slovenian star. Yes, Doncic’s complaining could be dialed back, given he has 15 technical fouls, but it is hard to change that after earning a reputation of confronting referees and it’s that competitive spirit that also makes him so great.
JJ Redick defends Luka Doncic amid criticism about excessive complaining
Luka Doncic’s current head coach, JJ Redick, was asked about his star’s complaining and he shared a similar sentiment to Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. Doncic is a gifted player, but the way he conducts himself on the floor remains a fair criticism.
However, Redick believes he would much rather have someone who carries a competitive edge instead of someone who needs to be fired up by his coaches or teammates.
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