The reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , caught a lot of flak for his ability to draw contact and earn trips to the free-throw line for easy points. As a matter of fact, he was often called a "free-throw" merchant, as he averaged 8.8 free-throw attempts per game.
This season, Gilgeous-Alexander has given up the top spot of most free-throw attempts per game to Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic , who is averaging a league-best 10.8 shots at the charity stripe. However, despite his eye-popping numbers, it seems he's not content with the whistles he's getting, often whining about the lack of calls.
This was evident in a recent game against the Orlando Magic , where Doncic argued with referees after not getting a foul call on a tough jumper. Instead of hustling back on defense, he spent time pleading for a call, leaving Anthony Black wide open to make a layup.
According to veteran journalist and broadcaster Zach Lowe, it's plays like this that have made Doncic "unwatchable" this season.
Anybody who buys a ticket to watch the Lakers play can expect two things: Doncic's offensive brilliance on full display and him having nonstop conversations with game officials. From the opening tip to the final buzzer, Doncic spends so much time pleading for calls that it almost always leaves the Lakers playing four-on-five on the other end, resulting in uncontested shots for the opposing team.
Speaking on his show, Lowe couldn't hide his frustration with Doncic, saying it's downright annoying to see someone so talented get caught up in complaining instead of playing the game.
"The whining. It's back. Luka's complaining has reached new heights — peak, slash nadir, Dallas levels. It's every fu — ing play," Lowe shared . "Just play, man."
To be fair to the Slovenian superstar, he isn't the first, nor will he be the last, to campaign for foul calls all game long. The great Michael Jordan did it. So did the late Kobe Bryant . However, what makes Doncic's case appalling is the relentlessness with which he pursues it, game in and game out.
"Not everything is a foul. And it's almost like — are you playing to draw a foul, or are you playing basketball? Like, which one are you doing?" Lowe said. "Are you playing one-on-one with the refs, or are you playing a game?"
NBA referees are some of the best in the world. Yet at the same time, they're also humans who are prone to missing a call or two. It's a truth Doncic can't seem to embrace, leading him to wage war on two fronts: one against the referees, the other against the opponent.
With the Lakers falling to sixth in the West, Doncic can't afford to lose his focus and waste so much energy on things that he can't control. Instead, he should focus on improving his own game and helping his team secure a playoff spot.
"It's every single possession now. It's completely out of control. It's back to Dallas levels," Lowe said. "It's just unwatchable. And I hate it because he's a genius — a literal basketball genius who can get any shot and any pass he wants."
The 6'6" guard can do anything he wants on the court, regardless of defensive pressure or scheme; the man is just that talented and skilled. However, he gets so caught up in the officiating and perceived fouls that he takes away from his own game.
That energy could be better used somewhere else — on a defensive end, for example.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
