The NBA suspended Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder three games Saturday for confronting and attempting to strike Luka Doncic after the Kings’ loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles on Dec. 28.
Doncic and Schroder jawed at each other during various points of the Kings’ 125-101 loss. During a timeout, Doncic taunted Schroder, telling him he “should’ve signed that contract” in reference to the four-year, $82 million extension Schroder declined from the Lakers a few years ago.
Things appeared to cool off as the game ended. But Schroder left the visitors locker room at Crypto.com Arena, spotted Doncic and tempers flared again inside the tunnel across from the home bench.
Forty minutes after the buzzer, Schroder went after Doncic, telling Doncic that he can’t call him a “b—-” on the court and pretend everything is fine off the court. The NBA concluded that Schroder attempted to strike Doncic.
Lakers center Deandre Ayton tried to drag away Schroder from the confrontation while a stunned Doncic attempted to exit as security intervened.
Schroder was eventually escorted to the team bus as Kings coach Doug Christie and several teammates sought answers about the sudden drama.
Doncic and his father, Saša, eventually walked to their nearby car and left, as Schroder and his Kings teammates prepared to leave on the team bus.
The Lakers and Kings meet again Monday night in Sacramento. Schroder will be suspended for the matchup.