Luka on the edge

If you hear something late at night

Some kind of trouble, some kind of fight

Just don’t ask me what it was

Just don’t ask me what it was

Just don’t ask me what it was

– Suzanne Vega, “Luka”

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Don?i? is one technical foul away from a one game suspension. He picked up his 15th T of the season against the Denver Nuggets, but is pleading his case. His ceaseless complaining has annoyed even his own teammates, who admonish him to keep his mind on the game. He has even had a run in with head coach JJ Reddick, whom he almost charged on the bench after slapping the mentor’s hand away. The coach just played it off afterwards.

“He and I have a great relationship. I really value our relationship,” Reddick said of the incident against the Golden State Warriors. “It’s a competition. There’s two guys here who are – in this case – trying to win a basketball game and be on the same page about stuff.”

The Slovenian sensation was supposedly a steal when he was traded to the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks. To be fair, he has been playing marvelously, leading the league in scoring, and often single-handedly, carrying Los Angeles to wins. Doncic is averaging a monstrous 32.5 points per game to lead the league. His 8.5 assists per outing is third best. The Lakers are fighting for optimal playoff positioning in the final stretch of the season. But the downside to Doncic’s brilliance is that he has done this before. Last season, he had 13 technical fouls. The year before, he had 15. It looks like things are getting worse.

Before he came to LA, Don?i? was already a worldwide spectacle. Unhappy in Dallas, he gained weight and threw tantrums. He did the same thing in the FIBA World Cup held here in the Philippines, where he played for his national team. He would fight with the referees, and even shout at his bench to do something about his complaints, all on global television. If you look back, he has been complimented and treated better than most people since he was very young. It appears that he has not grown into his responsibilities as a team leader, insisting on having his way, even challenging his coach.

Ironically, his nickname is Magic. Magic Johnson likewise challenged his coach, Paul Westhead, after the Lakers won an NBA championship in 1980. Unhappy with a slower offense, Johnson requested to be traded. Instead, Westhead was fired, and Pat Riley took over. The rest is history. The Showtime Lakers won four more titles that decade. Is this Luka Don?i?’s blueprint?

Is the pressure of winning for the most glamorous basketball franchise in the world getting to be too much? Is the 6-foot-8 guard getting scared of the success that he is earning? Will his attitude change, more so when LeBron James is no longer on the team next season? He is an absolute basketball genius, to be certain. But sometimes, he acts like a child in a giant body. We always wish him the best, but there are times when enough is enough. He can be a true leader, the face of the NBA, and leave a lasting legacy behind. But he has to grow up. And more importantly, win.