The NBA suspended the Kings’ Schroder for three games for confronting and attempting to hit Doncic following the loss to the Lakers on Dec. 28.
The NBA suspended Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder for three games on saturday for confronting and attempting to attack Luka Doncic following the Kings’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on December 28.
Doncic and Schroder clashed several times during the Kings’ 125-101 loss. During a timeout, Doncic provoked Schroder, telling him he “should have signed that contract,” referring to the four-year, $82 million contract extension Schroder turned down from the Lakers a few years ago.
It seemed that tempers had calmed down at the end of the game. But Schroder came out of the visiting locker room at the Crypto.com Arena, saw Doncic, and tempers flared again in the tunnel, in front of the home bench.
Forty minutes after the end of the match, Schroder confronted Doncic, telling him that he could not insult him on the court and pretend that nothing was happening off it. The NBA concluded that Schroder attempted to assault Doncic.
Lakers center Deandre Ayton attempted to separate Schroder from the confrontation, while a stunned Doncic attempted to leave and security intervened.
Schroder was eventually escorted to the team bus as Kings coach Doug Christie and several teammates sought explanations for the sudden incident.
Doncic and his father, Saša, headed to their nearby car and drove off, while Schroder and his Kings teammates prepared to leave on the team bus.
The Lakers and Kings will meet again Monday night in Sacramento. Schroder will be suspended for that game.
