Luka Doncic Confronts “Grown A** Man” Attacking His Family a Day After Kyrie Irving Altercation

With just 4 minutes remaining on the clock in Quarter 4, the Dallas Mavericks held a comfortable 9-point lead against the OKC Thunder. But then suddenly a time-out was called. Players were then heading to the bench, but Luka Doncic seemed distracted. His attention was not on his team or his coach or even drinking water, his attention was on a Thunder fan sitting courtside.

Both seemed to be exchanging some heated words. Things were civil at first, but then turned intense, in the fast-paced Game 2. Luka Doncic not only silenced the OKC crowd but also that boisterous courtside fan. The confrontation with the OKC fan soon turned into a heated argument, which he addressed after the game.

One reporter asked if the hecklers from courtside affected his game. The Mavs guard said, “That’s great for me, I love it. There was one guy, courtside, going at my family. I don’t like that. A grown a** man just can’t do that… I just went back. It’s crazy. That’s a grown a** man coming at my family. That’s kinda nuts.”

And that particular fan wasn’t the only one who directed his frustration towards Luka Magic. There were thousands inside the arena, trying to rattle him. Suddenly, fans started chanting “Luka sucks”, creating an almost hostile atmosphere against the Mavericks and him. But Doncic wasn’t one to stumble. He did what he did best. He performed and led his team to a series-tying win.

Importantly, this nasty confrontation came a day after Kyrie Irving‘s heated moment with a fan. During Game 1, minutes into the first quarter, Luka Doncic approached courtside to collect the ball. But, strangely, a fan threw the ball in the other direction. While the Slovenian star let it slide with an amusing look on his face, Kai stepped in and confronted the insensitive fan. However, tonight, Doncic didn’t hold back.

Tonight isn’t the first time when the Guard has engaged with a boisterous fan. Notably, in the 2022 NBA postseason, he argued with a fan who donned a Devin Booker jersey. Following that, he explained, “We’re people, man. It’s normal to turn around and get mad.” On the other hand, Uncle Drew has also engaged in multiple fan arguments despite his calm and composed behavior. Especially during his controversial period at the Brooklyn Nets, fans repeatedly went after him from the stands.

Luka Doncic shines as Kai takes care of the PG duties

Despite the hecklers and Game 1 disappointment, the Mavs duo sealed the deal in Game 2. Luka Doncic found his rhythm back after an underwhelming performance, dropping 19 points in Game 1. Tonight, the 25-year-old turned up the heat and dropped the game-winning effort of 29-10-9 along with three steals and a block.

On the other hand, while usually Kyrie Irving joins the shooting guard on the points tally, tonight, he had a silent night. The former NBA Champion dropped only 9 points and a 2-8 FG in his 41-minute game time. Instead, he focussed on point guard duties by orchestrating the play for most of the occasion, recording 9 assists.

In Irving’s absence, P. J. Washington took care of the offensive business, dropping 29 points with 11 rebounds. Importantly, he went 7-11 from the perimeter, giving the OKC defenders a tough time locating him in transitions. The Thunder might have an eye on him for the next game. Maybe Jason Kidd could run his play through Kai again.

Next up, with the series standing at 1-1, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Co. will travel to Dallas for Game 3. And they could expect the taste of their own medicine from the Mavs fans. Will the Mavs fans make life tough for the Thunder team? Let us know in the comments below.