Luka Doncic has been criticized by several NBA personalities lately because of complaining too much. It's a fair assessment since the Los Angeles Lakers need all hands on deck, especially on the defensive side of the ball. With Doncic pleading his case every time, L.A. is often left with a man down on the other end.
While that's a perfectly valid reason to stop pouting at the refs, Reggie Miller offered a different perspective on why The Don should just leave the officials alone.
Miller carved out a Hall of Fame career for the Indiana Pacers by expertly manipulating the referees. As a skinny 6'7", 210-pound shooting guard, Uncle Reg made the officials a huge part of his game on both ends: He made sure they saw the fouls committed on him, while masterfully disguising his own infractions.
However, as much as he enjoyed these cat-and-mouse games, Miller knew when it was time to disengage.
"It doesn't work, and I made it a point, especially come playoff time, you can't talk to the refs," Miller said on "The Dan Patrick Show." "You can't get into a battle with them because when every possession matters, and you're trying to conserve energy once the playoffs hit, emotions are so high, you gotta pick your battles of where to expend energy. "
"If you're always on the referees' case, and complaining… you can't do it. You'll never win that battle," Reggie added.
That advice hits a nerve because, as good as Doncic is, it seems like he is constantly chirping at the referees more than he cares about defense. Whether in Dallas or Los Angeles, cameras often catch him lingering behind the play with outstretched arms, glaring at the officials. That has become a huge part of the Slovenian's on-court persona, whether he likes it or not.
It's such a shame because he is such a great player. Everyone knows what Luka Magic can do when he is engaged. After a competitive banter against Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the 2022 playoffs, Doncic turned it on in the final two games to eliminate the reigning Western Conference champs. This was after Booker seemingly took a shot at the Don's flopping skills in the Suns' 110-80 victory in Game 5.
Instead of getting lost in a back-and-forth, the Slovenian superstar simply let his game do the talking. He dropped 33 in Game 6 and 35 in Game 7, matching the Suns' 27-point total in the first half alone.
Obviously, Luka does not need to change who he is. He loves to talk, and the banters he engages in seem to fuel his fire. Doncic has already shown everybody that version in 2022, and that's the guy the Lakers need right now.
As Miller pointed out, his energy is better spent elsewhere. Reggie was talking primarily about the playoffs, but Luka could use some of that sage advice in the regular season, too. The moments he spent getting at the officials' faces already meant a bucket down the other end. Those things add up and can ultimately swing momentum, even game results.
Miller's message to Doncic was rooted in his own experience. Save the debates and the energy for when it matters the most, and spend the rest of your effort on dictating the game. If Luka learns to redirect even a fraction of his emotion into the team's execution, the Lakers stand to benefit in ways that do not show up in a box score but often decide the outcome.
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.
