Lakers’ Luka Doncic says Magic player made explicit comment about his family
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The Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic were involved in a heated clash on Saturday night, which ended with Luke Kennard hitting a game-winning shot to give Los Angeles a 105-104 victory.
In the middle of the contest, Lakers star Luka Doncic committed his 16th technical foul of the season when he got into a fight with Magic center Goga Bitadze. Doncic chirped at Bitadze as the two ran down the court in the third quarter.
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic controls the ball against the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center on March 21, 2026. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Image Images)
Doncic shed some light on the incident.
“I definitely hope [it is rescinded]”he told reporters after the game, via ESPN. “Obviously, I let my team down by getting that latest technology. But honestly, I wasn’t trying. [Bitadze] He said in the free throw that he would fuck my whole family. And at some point, this is a basketball court. At some point, I just can’t stand it. I have to defend myself. But I know I have to do better.
“I know my teammates have my back, so I let them down today. But hopefully, it will be rescinded.”
Bitadze told ESPN and the Orlando Sentinel that Doncic swore at him in Serbian and he simply repeated the same words back to him. He explained that Doncic said something about his mother and he repeated the same thing to him.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves shoots the ball past Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze at the Kia Center on March 21, 2026. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Image Images)
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“I have all the respect for Luka and what he has done,” Bitadze said. “And I really respect everyone’s family. Where I come from, it’s really sacred and we really respect each other’s families, and I would never say that directly. He just said some inappropriate things in the Serbian language, which, I played in Serbia, I understand.
“I don’t know if he knew I understood what he said. So I just told him back. And it wasn’t anything toward his family or anyone. I really, really respect his family.”
If Doncic does not win his appeal, he will be forced to miss one game as discipline for reaching the 16 technical foul threshold.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic moves the ball past Orlando Magic forward Jamal Cain at the Kia Center on March 21, 2026. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Image Images)
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The Lakers are 46-25 and are third in the Western Conference.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor at News Digital.