NBA Rescinding Luka Doncic’s 16th Technical Foul Leads Fans to Cite Favoritism- “League is Becoming a Joke”
Luka Doncic earned his 16th technical foul of the season after his verbal spat with Orlando Magic star Goga Bidatze.
Luka Doncic's 16th technical foul rescinded (Image via FirstSportz)
Headed by Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers have been on a tear, winning nine straight games, during which he has not scored less than 30 points in any of them.
The Slovenian has relished his status as the primary scorer of this team with Austin Reaves and LeBron James playing off him. That combination has led to impressive results with the franchise now tipped to be championship favorites.
That last win came against the Orlando Magic at their home, and Doncic again led all scorers with 33. However, it was his technical foul that became the talking point after the win.
The media and fans forgot that Luka Kennard had to bail them out of a tough game, which could have ended their streak, and instead focused on the five-time All-NBA first-teamer’s 16th technical foul, which usually means he will be suspended for their next game.
With that being against the East-leading Detroit Pistons, the Lakers appealed for that tech to be rescinded. Their logic was that Luka Doncic was not the aggressor. Rather, he was standing his ground after the Magic’s Goga Bitadze took shots at his personal life.
The NBA has rescinded Lakers star Luka Doncic's 16th technical foul, allowing him to play in Monday's road game against the Detroit Pistons.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 22, 2026
Considering how the 6’8″ guard is battling problems with the custody of his two daughters and child support lawsuits, the NBA decided to rescind the technical foul, which means Doncic will be available for their next game.
Fans tear into NBA for favoritism towards Luka Doncic and Lakers
When fans came to know about this, they were livid at Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA’s top brass. Goga Bitadze had pointed out that Luka Doncic had started the battle of words, which is what prompted him to respond in kind.
However, fans believe that the league conveniently ignored that fact, simply because the Lakers’ winning is good for business. Check out examples of those reactions below.
lol. What else to get the lakers to the finals. League is becoming a joke.
— SmallBizV (@realsmallbizguy) March 22, 2026
Shams: ‘rescinded tech, Luka plays.’ Translation: ‘Silver saves his favorite again.’ 16th tech gone because ratings > rules. White privilege jokes aside, this is superstar treatment at its worst. Pistons about to get steamrolled because of it. Rigged.
— Golden Bachelor🥤X (@iamisokokid) March 22, 2026
So 16 technicals = suspension… unless someone changes their mind?
— Tee Acoustic (@tee_acoustic) March 22, 2026
Not even mad, just curious are rules actually rules, or just strong suggestions depending on who you are?
16 techs for everybody else. 15.5 if you wear purple and gold
— SpreadSheetWarriors (@SpreadSheetWear) March 22, 2026
But the league is rigged for OKC got it
— OJ🇲🇽🇺🇸 (@OJfromOKC) March 22, 2026
The NBA realized that nobody was buying a ticket to see a Pistons game without the main attraction on the court. Business is business. 🏀🎟️
— Theodoros Kafantaris (@thkafadaris) March 22, 2026
gotta love when the universe gifts a plot twist like a soap opera with better dribbling
— diangotxh (@suzyelso) March 22, 2026
Luka Dončić dodging a suspension? NBA just handed him a “get out of jail free” card 😂😂
— ClicksAndDrama (@Estherchika24) March 22, 2026
Luka Doncic could still earn his 16th technical foul sometime during the final eleven games of the regular season, which could then incur a suspension. But fans believe the league wants to put that off until the Lakers cement third place in the West.
However, if the guard does not draw another technical foul, and does so in the playoffs, fans believe this will be the Draymond Green situation from the 2016 finals, and that could bite the Lakers at the worst possible time.
Dirk Nowitzki trolls Luka Doncic after heartwarming embrace
Other than the technical foul, Luka Doncic had a productive game. Other than his game-leading 33 points, he also finished with game-high’s in assists, steals, and +/-.

Such efficiency on both ends of the floor is a perfect response to his critics, who very recently pointed out how his lack of effort on the defensive end, along with his ball-hogging tendencies, were negatively affecting his team.
Overrated.
Dirk Nowitzki said
This was Dallas Mavericks legend and Doncic’s mentor, Dirk Nowitzki, who, after embracing his former understudy in between the Lakers-Magic game, yelled this to troll Doncic.
👀 @lukadoncic walks over to @swish41 to hug him before the game and Dirk teases him with the “overrated” chant 😂
— The Laker Banker (@TheLakerBanker) March 22, 2026
Via IG: Ricky_G_29150 pic.twitter.com/LsCCxN276A
Nowitzki knows all too well about the recent narratives and has seen his former teammate shut them down with his electric performances so far.
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