Refs Face Luka Doncic’s Wrath as Calls Mount on NBA Over Anti-Lakers Agenda

The Lakers are in the middle of yet another officiating firestorm, and at this point, it’s getting ridiculous. We’re not just talking about one bad call here or there—this is game after game of head-scratching, infuriating, are-you-serious-with-this type of officiating. And now, even Luka Doncic has had enough.

The latest mess went down on March 10, 2025, when the Lakers took on the Nets, and let’s just say the whistles were working a little differently depending on which jersey you were wearing. Brooklyn lived at the free-throw line while the Lakers—despite getting smacked on drives all night—barely got a trip to the stripe. Austin Reaves, in particular, got hacked over and over again, but apparently, the refs decided contact only exists when the Lakers are defending. And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, the Purple & Gold got hit with a technical for daring to question the nonsense. It was obvious that Doncic would get frustrated and use some sweet Serbian words for the referees.

And it’s not just this game—it’s becoming a pattern. Two nights earlier against the Celtics, Doncic got a knee to the face from Al Horford—no call. Jaylen Brown literally bulldozed into him for what should’ve been an offensive foul—refs overturned it. Before that, in the Clippers game, LeBron James got hacked by Kawhi Leonard in crunch time, and somehow, after review, the officials just shrugged and waved it off. Even LeBron, who has seen it all, couldn’t believe it and took to social media to clown the decision.

That’s now three straight games where the Lakers have gotten completely hosed by officiating. And at some point, you gotta ask—is this just a bad stretch of luck, or is there something deeper going on?

Fans Lash Out at NBA’s Officiating Standards as Luka Doncic Voices Frustration

If there’s one thing NBA fans hate, it’s bad officiating. And when it keeps happening? Oh, you know social media is going to let the league know all about it!

One fan straight-up lost it, tweeting, “@NBA get your bumass @OfficialNBARefs under control. The inconsistency from game to game is getting annoying as f–k.” And honestly? Can you blame them? The NBA has all this fancy technology to supposedly get calls right, yet somehow, refs still manage to miss the most obvious fouls. Back in the 2000s, people complained that the league was too physical. Now? Nobody even knows what a foul is anymore because the calls change every other possession.

And it’s not just about perception—the numbers back it up. Another fan pointed out just how blatant it’s been for the Lakers: “I really thought I was tripping, but I watch every game, and they are literally swallowing the whistle when it comes to the Lakers. No way first free throws come in the 3rd—ridiculous smh.” Against Brooklyn, the Lakers shot only two free throws in the entire first half. Meanwhile, the Nets got call after call giving them 16 free throws. Add in the missed fouls on drives and the nonsense technicals, and it’s easy to see why fans are losing their minds.

One fan even brought up that game—yeah, that one: “This is like that one month in 2023 that ended with that Celtics/Lakers game.” Lakers fans still have PTSD from that night. LeBron drove for a game-winning layup, Jayson Tatum whacked his arm so hard you could hear it through the TV, and… silence. No whistle. Game goes to OT, Lakers lose, and the refs actually admitted after the fact that they messed up. And now, with how things have been going lately, it’s starting to feel all too familiar.

Now, fans want JJ Redick to step up and say something. One even tweeted, “Tell JJ to grow a pair and call them out. I’ll pay the fine.” But that’s not really Redick’s style. Phil Jackson used to play mind games with the refs through the media. Steve Kerr isn’t afraid to call out officiating when needed. Redick, though? He’s mostly kept quiet, and that’s rubbing some fans the wrong way.

So now, the question is—does the NBA do anything about this? Or does Luka Doncic and the Lakers have to accept that, for whatever reason, the whistle just isn’t going their way right now? Because at this point, it’s getting harder and harder to believe this is all just a coincidence.