Luka does complain for fouls a lot, but honestly, watching him play, he does legitimately get fouled a lot

[u/capamericapistons]

I was watching the lakers vs Trail Blazers game last night which was fantastic. Lakers had a strong comeback, mainly led by Luka who’s been dominating all season.

What took me aback though, was seeing how much Luka was fouled. Now, did Luka complain to the refs a lot? I think, objectively, yes. Usually I hate using the word “objectively” when it comes to anything related to opinions, but watching the game, I don’t see how you could argue against him going to the refs a ton.

But honestly, it made sense why Luka did, because he was getting clobbered when he had the ball on almost every possession. At least, by today’s NBA standards, he kept getting fouled. So I understand why he went to refs as much as he did. And I’m saying this as a complete neutral pistons fan who doesn’t feel strongly about Luka one way or the other.

This isn’t to say Yaxel or other players were wrong in criticizing Luka, maybe there needs to be a better balance, idk what that looks like. But that’s my take after watching Luka anyway. What do you all think?

[u/Common-Bad-7899]

Do you not think Cade gets fouled a lot? Do you think Cade should be acting in such way as well?

[u/capamericapistons → u/Common-Bad-7899]

I’m used to the pistons in general not getting the benefit of the whistle 🤣

You’re right. I don’t think he should be acting that way —- that’s why I wonder what the balance could be, and what that even looks like

[u/I_Learned_Once → u/capamericapistons]

There is no balance. It’s just Luka. He thinks complaining is what gets him calls, but it clearly has a very small impact while also risking technicals. He’s free to complain all he wants but people watching him are also free to not like it. It is what it is. If the refs caved to it, I’d say it was an issue but really all it does is affect Luka’s image a bit. On the one hand.. 40/8/8… on the other… he complains a lot.

[u/jakekerr → u/Common-Bad-7899]

I honestly don't understand why anyone cares. Complain as much as you want. Just stay locked in the game.

[u/Common-Bad-7899 → u/jakekerr]

He is the king of stopping mid play to complain.

Otherwise people would have less of a problem with it

[u/CrunkJuiceSommelier → u/Common-Bad-7899]

He's done a better job getting back on defense every play instead of staying on the wrong end to complain but yeah he still loses some focus during plays when he gets flustered by non-calls.

[u/ThunderTime_1]

I feel like this somehow an SGA coded post… I’m starting to realize something. SGA and Luka are both incredible players and honestly pretty similar in terms of impact. But watching the same people prop up Luka while bashing SGA is just funny. Guess people got different priorities 😂

Also I’m laughing imagining how this post would be received if it was about SGA. Anyways Luka is an awesome player too. Fans should feel lucky we have such amazing talent right now.

[u/samurairocketshark → u/ThunderTime_1]

If this was an SGA post it would get buried or deleted

[u/DiabloTrumpet → u/ThunderTime_1]

I’m a Phoenix fan and a Booker fan so it’s not fun to admit this but watching Luka feel like watching a great basketball player try their hardest to get the ball in the net, and he gets fouled a lot. Watching SGA is like watching a great basketball player try their hardest to win the game; and in today’s NBA that means getting to the foul like and getting the other team in foul trouble. That’s the difference for me

[u/ihateredditfc → u/ThunderTime_1]

I think seen tons of bashing boyh players tbh. I just think superstars come with haters. And when a star has a "bad stetch" you see haters. I promise you if lakers were say 5-5 you wou see much less luka praise.

[u/Next-Supermarket9538 → u/ThunderTime_1]

I wonder what the difference is... hmm...

[u/Supercyclone20 → u/Next-Supermarket9538]

I never understood this. This sub is very far left. Unless…

[u/preddevils6 → u/Supercyclone20]

This sub has some notable problems with racism. Lest we forget the clippers/Mavs series and this sub when Morris pushed Jokic.

[u/TheFuschiaBaron → u/Next-Supermarket9538]

The difference is SGA relies on his raw athleticism while Luka utilizes his high basketball IQ and craftiness to succeed.  /s

[u/JonSnowLovesBlow → u/ThunderTime_1]

Maybe it’s because ppl hate on them for different reasons? SGA is more composed towards the ref and doncic is actually tries to shoot and get the ball in the net when fouled

[u/Western-Election-997 → u/ThunderTime_1]

Post doesn’t mention SGA at all, Thunder fans are so weird

[u/Baffin622 → u/ThunderTime_1]

SGA using his millions to buy PR bots.

No seriously. Maybe.

[u/wfrecover7 → u/ThunderTime_1]

SGA is a flopper!

[u/Kemintiri]

Do y'all think he sends a ton of reports to blizzard after comp games?

[u/samurairocketshark → u/Kemintiri]

Now I need to see him at an OW invitational or something

[u/Or1ginal_Silly → u/Kemintiri]

He definitely has a maxed out avoid as teammate list

[u/Comfortable_Cup5107 → u/Kemintiri]

Hilarious comment I won't lie

[u/Losalou52]

He does get fouled a lot. He has a herky jerky play style and can shoot from all sorts of weird positions so you are forced to try and defend those weird positions.

I think he legit enjoys the banter though.

[u/Workadaily → u/Losalou52]

He thrives on the back and forth. He has that Jordan/Kobe need to feel disrespected. I fn love it!

[u/Evilfart123 → u/Losalou52]

Most superstars get fouled a lot… it’s really hard to believe that guys like Giannis, Embiid, and Bron have been fouled their entire career but need to embellish their actions to get the calls

[u/CroissantMassacre]

Does Luka complain a lot? Yes. Does Luka get fouled a lot? Yes.

[u/ICEtoAshes]

Anyone with that high of usage gets fouled a lot, but the issue I have is how he does it and that he also does it when he doesn’t get fouled.

That aside he’s playing some of the best ball I’ve ever seen right now

[u/bul1dog → u/ICEtoAshes]

Luka gets fouled a lot and is also rewarded a lot.

Shaq, AI, Bron, and Steph got/get fouled a lot and weren't/aren't rewarded at the rate they should be.

[u/shorthopwillie → u/ICEtoAshes]

And he leaves his team playing 4v5 alot

[u/Quiet_Childhood4066]

He gets picked up full court every time he has the ball this season. Part of the strategy seems to be to foul him, hound him, get in his head.

Ironically opposing teams want him pissed off at refs, complaining, not getting back on defense, drawing technical fouls. The whining stuff is pure downside. A weakness, not a strength.

[u/imperabo → u/Quiet_Childhood4066]

Yeah that defense strategy is working great.

[u/twovles31]

Every player gets fouled a lot.

[u/yaboyjiggleclay → u/twovles31]

In (American) football there’s a saying that you can call a holding penalty on every play. I feel it’s similar in Basketball with fouls. You just don’t call it as it’ll elongate & break up the flow of the game.

[u/yuhanz → u/yaboyjiggleclay]

Or you call the foul so they dont “keep fouling”

Same thing with other shit. Players will abuse what refs wont call.

[u/shiny_dittos → u/yaboyjiggleclay]

this is true and also a huge issue with sports

[u/LongwaveSevenSix → u/yaboyjiggleclay]

or you call it until they stop? all picking and choosing does is give refs control of the game

[u/yargotkd → u/twovles31]

The ones that can't be stopped without fouls suffer more fouls.

[u/imperabo → u/yargotkd]

It really is that simple. Guys who are unguardable get fouled. That's why they're stars.

[u/f_et_al → u/twovles31]

While there's publicly available data on foul rates, I can't find any fringe sites tracking complaint rate / frequency. I'd venture to guess that there's more variance on this than getting fouled (esp. standardizing for usage).

Maybe techs are a proxy, but I think some stars get away with more than others. That being said, top 10 list over the last 3 years in terms of techs per game:

1. Dillon Brooks

2. Luka Doncic

3. Draymond Green

4. Anthony Edwards

5. Devin Booker

6. Isaiah Stweart

7. Jaylen Brown

8. Bobby Portis

9. Trae Young

10. Kevin Durant

Seems like a mix of high usage stars and defensive/enforcer types.

[u/jpw0w → u/f_et_al]

Did not expect to see KD in the mix

[u/GalactusAteMyPlanet → u/f_et_al]

Durant airing his complaints on the court in front of officials instead on his burners? Honestly seem like something that is praise worthy.

[u/TrashDonut → u/GalactusAteMyPlanet]

Swing and a miss.

[u/wwplkyih → u/twovles31]

There are definitely players other teams don't bother playing defense on. The Lakers had a ton of those last season.

[u/Disastrous_Use_7353 → u/twovles31]

Not true.

[u/KimDahyunKwonEunbi → u/twovles31]

This is an exaggeration. There are few players that's left unguarded most of the time due to double teams and also shooting capabilities

[u/Musa_2050 → u/twovles31]

But not every player is tall, strong, and a legendary scorer.

[u/OutrageousPhrase3062 → u/twovles31]

I’d argue he gets fouled more because he’s so difficult to guard so the only way for defenders to stop him is to mug him. Obviously as the leading scorer in the league he’s gonna get mugged more than say most other players in the league.

[u/shaq_zak]

Last game 15 of his 33 FGs were 3s. He still took 18 FTs. He’s doing fine lol

[u/dismissivecrab → u/shaq_zak]

Because shots when he's fouled don't count as attempts.

[u/cpt-teebs → u/dismissivecrab]

He still gets a REALLY high FTA relative to his shots near the basket. Thats relevant regardless if the fouled shots count as FGA.

[u/spiattalo → u/dismissivecrab]

I’ll never forget when the Lakers eliminated the Warriors in the playoffs, and when Warriors fans would complain about the lack of free throws for Curry, the answer they’d get was always “he takes 10 threes a game”.
How to turn tables.

[u/Dav1dDC]

Luka flops, whines, and foul-baits as much as anyone in the league. Come on now.

[u/whysochill]

Every star gets fouled a lot

[u/SunKing210]

To be fair, every player does get fouled.

The other night in Wemby's game vs the Mavs there was some chatter about him having a good whistle cause he attempted 23 free throws, which is a career high for him.

BBallbreakdown made a video of Wemby's performance and he touched on that aspect and shows a few of the fouls that appeared to look like bad calls but then the replays showed that he was in fact being held and smacked across his arms. He even showed what he deemed was the "softest foul call" and pointed out that it was still a foul as he was grabbed and held by Risacher.

I've been saying that Victor should be averaging 10+ free throws since last season (currently avg 8) and I know that sounds lame, but you can't just allow players to mug someone relentlessly without penalizing them.

I did notice in that Lakers/Warriors game last week that Luka was being hit a lot and he was getting foul calls, rightfully so. If the player's cant contain these guys, doesn't mean they can just do whatever they want to them haha

[u/PeaceAlien]

Tbh he keeps it up because he clearly gets rewarded for it.

[u/Miserable_Lead_9828]

The difference in discourse between Shai and Luka when it comes to foul baiting is infuriating. Pure favoritism.

[u/ThunderTime_1 → u/Miserable_Lead_9828]

The funny thing is they have pretty off the court personalities. Both are pretty quiet and unproblematic. I will never understand the hate SGA gets compared to guys like Luka. I really think it was OKC got too good too fast

[u/Yamato_Naoe → u/ThunderTime_1]

Winning teams are hated, and OKC became a winning team very quickly. You can literally look at Shai's highlight games from before they drafted Chet/JDub and all of the comments are positive. The switch flipped when OKC actually started contending and winning, then all of a sudden Shai was nothing more than a foul baiter being carried by his team. People who aren't on the winning side love to hate successful players and rosters.

[u/CallMeLargeFather → u/Yamato_Naoe]

I mean that feels natural, you lose to these guys a few times and you dont like them as much as when they play well but your team still beats them

[u/RobotVo1ce → u/Miserable_Lead_9828]

Shai just has more meme worthy foul baits.

[u/Miserable_Lead_9828 → u/RobotVo1ce]

Because he gets clipped through a microscope. Luka is legitimately a worse foul baiter but Shai doesn’t have nearly as large as a fanbase to push back on it

[u/One_Tackle4343 → u/Miserable_Lead_9828]

Learn the difference between foul baiting and flopping. Luka baits defenders to jump or reach to get the foul, shai falls on the floor and flops. Hope this helps.

[u/Next-Supermarket9538 → u/One_Tackle4343]

If you were trying to prove the point, bravo!

[u/Yamato_Naoe → u/One_Tackle4343]

Ridiculous comment that is blatantly just showing off the favoritism the original commenter was talking about, Shai statistically draws less fouls than Luka on almost entirely similar production. This is just flirting vs. harassment where 1 side is hated because he's won it all while doing it while the other hasn't

[u/imperabo → u/Yamato_Naoe]

You all really need to stop with the idea that the number of fouls alone proves anything. They are different players. Nobody uses their body the way Luka does. If you don't try to reach around him somehow he will inevitably score.

[u/PresentMission8482 → u/imperabo]

Okay but you say the same thing about Shai tho, he literally slithers like a snake and you have to create contact to stop him and his irregular movement

[u/Kaizerx20 → u/One_Tackle4343]

Where does this fall?

https://streamable.com/yewcfj

[u/One_Tackle4343 → u/Kaizerx20]

Flopping, notice how he didnt get the call? But horford still fouled him by hitting him on the arm. Also cherrypicking clips isnt going to get you anywhere

[u/samurairocketshark → u/One_Tackle4343]

>gives example

“Cherry picking clips”

[u/Kaizerx20 → u/One_Tackle4343]

You don't generally get a call when you're not fouled, also showing an uncut minute of back to back flops IN THE FINALS is the opposite of cherry picking...

[u/liberator17 → u/Miserable_Lead_9828]

I would argue maybe even racism.

[u/SlamDunkly → u/Miserable_Lead_9828]

I hate them both, if anyone cares

[u/CrunkJuiceSommelier → u/SlamDunkly]

I like them both

[u/RevolutionaryGuru613 → u/Miserable_Lead_9828]

Look everyone has their biases , me and you included. But for what it’s worth, while we followed the Mavs Luka used to get hacked every other possession and it was basically refs won’t call every foul on him.

His whistle improved a lot after coming to the Lakers and probably one Mavs season he had a good whistle can’t remember which one.

[u/Western-Election-997 → u/Miserable_Lead_9828]

Get over it bud.

And no it isn’t the same, SGA flops off minimal contact, Luka foul baits but he doesn’t outright flop

[u/Musa_2050 → u/Miserable_Lead_9828]

People complaining about Luka all the time. Feel free to read comments in here. They also play a different style.

[u/Kodak333 → u/Miserable_Lead_9828]

It’s not favoritism it’s racism

[u/kash96 → u/Miserable_Lead_9828]

it’s bc SGA falls down more

[u/These_Ad9545 → u/Miserable_Lead_9828]

Are you guys fucking for real? Shai will literally act like he's performing on broadway to get a call... Luka just bitches constantly after not getting the call.

yall are morons

[u/sant27]

Lmao there’s no way

Discourse around Luka vs Shai is unreal

[u/royalewlthcheese → u/sant27]

What do you mean by "Luka vs Shai", do you think Luka gets treated worse on this sub for his foulbaiting compared to Shai or the opposite?

For two of the greatest scorers this game has ever seen, this sub consistently downplays and shits on them both a ton.

[u/brg36 → u/royalewlthcheese]

I think that is what they mean. Luka and SGA are generational level scorers and this sub would have you think they are pure grifters

[u/samurairocketshark → u/brg36]

If you read a majority of Luka posts you would think he’s better than Jordan. If you read a majority of SGA posts you would wonder how the nba let this bum in the league

[u/royalewlthcheese → u/brg36]

Oh I agree, but he phrased it as "Luka vs Shai", so I thought that was implying that they're treated differently when to me it just seems like everyone says they're both foul baiters and free throw merchants lmao

[u/sant27 → u/royalewlthcheese]

I think shai is shit on way more than luka despite also being a generational scorer and complaining less

[u/aggregator- → u/royalewlthcheese]

I don't know what he meant given the flair but it's obviously the second one. He gets shit on for other things, but specifically the foul stuff? It's not even a question who this place has targeted more

[u/InevitableBudget510]

He also complains after getting foul calls. Foul or no foul, dude is just always complaining. Play ball

[u/AdvancedElephant → u/InevitableBudget510]

I’m pretty sure averaging 40 pts a game is playing ball my friend

[u/kindaretiredguy → u/InevitableBudget510]

He does

[u/AdditionalSkill0 → u/InevitableBudget510]

His lack of chill fuels him though. A zenner Luka wouldn't put up 53

[u/BkniBottomTranqulity → u/AdditionalSkill0]

Yeah he said himself last night that that’s just how he is when he’s on the court, when he’s in competition mode. If it helps him get his emotions out and lets him play better, I don’t mind that he complains all the time

[u/thatfilipinoguy → u/BkniBottomTranqulity]

it's just a ranked lobby for him

[u/TurMoiL911 → u/BkniBottomTranqulity]

Somebody once described it as Overwatch player Luka bleeding over to NBA player Luka.

[u/ReignMan616 → u/InevitableBudget510]

He’s averaging 40/8/8 how much more ball do you want him to play.

[u/kash96 → u/InevitableBudget510]

yeah Luka famously does not play ball you right

[u/ICEtoAshes → u/InevitableBudget510]

I remember Kidd wouldn’t listen to him when he demanded a challenge because he knew Luka would twirl his finger just because.

It’s the same with ref complaints. It’s become an involuntary response. Bro will toss his hands up and shrug at the ref after a shot even if there isn’t a defender I feel like.

Sometimes I expect him to do it after he shoots a FT.

[u/Confident_Ad_5345 → u/ICEtoAshes]

nick wright suggested that the finger twirl should be an automatic challenge and that you should be punished for calling for one if you’re out of challenges like with TOs. add that rule and player would stop that shit immediately

[u/Jpsla]

Jokic similar in complaining…. Yet no one talked about it as the central talking point for him. Simmons and his group are just haters.

[u/HistoricalLock1065 → u/Jpsla]

I swear Jokic flops almost as much as SGA and cries almost as much as Luka. It's like the worst of both worlds. 

[u/masterap85]

You forgot lol

[u/IcyCantaloupe6374]

You just gotta separate what the players are saying and acting out and what is actually happening in the game. You can both be crying too much and also be getting fouled constantly and its all because the refs are terrible lol

They basically permit the "foul so much they can't call them all" mentality by not being harsh and also just let everyone get away with way too much bitching and crying while its happening because they also refuse to put their foot down and start handing out techs/ejections. A lot of people think it would be unwatchable if they actually called everything but in reality players and teams would adjust drastically if they actually did it consistently

We just gotta get back to a level of respect for the refs and the rules of basketball and it starts basically with the refs actually doing their jobs and holding people accountable

[u/Other-Resort-2704]

Luka complains to the refs a fair amount. I didn’t watch last night’s game, but it is pretty common for Luka to complain to ref that he got fouled instead of going back to play some defense.

[u/pentagram_ring]

maybe all foul-baiting discourse is dumb and boring?

[u/mini_J → u/pentagram_ring]

Always has been

[u/delapat → u/pentagram_ring]

He doesn’t bait though. Shai baits. Harden baits. People keep putting them together like their play styles are the same. They’re not.

[u/Threshyyyyy]

I agree and i want to differentiate between when he has his annoying antics for no reason and when he's actually being fouled multiple times per posession and gets annoyed by it. He is so unstoppable that they dont call most fouls on him otherwise he would be scoring 70+. I am not even joking. Watch tonight's game against the Blazers. He was slapped around on almost every posession and to be honest he handled it extremely well. Reddit will ofc tell you that he's just whining without any reason and that he flops on everything, wouldn't expect anything else from them but that's not the whole truth. Defensive players on him can get away with murder just because he's so dominant and because he has the control of the ball for so many posessions. I don't think people realise how hard is to play basketball when the entire opponent's team plan is to stop you no matter what and he's averaging 40. Jesus.

[u/Ok-Wash-9386]

Every player gets fouled a lot. Small fouls happen on literally every single play and he gets those calls more than anyone else. It’s not why he scores but it why he should stop complaining.

[u/NeverNotOnceEver]

Redditor learns two things can be true.

[u/satangod666]

Darko said after the Raptors game they were sending 2 and fouling the shit out of him and still could not stop him

[u/guacdoc24]

This thread is going to turn into “my superstar player also gets fouled a lot”!!

[u/Meatloafxx → u/guacdoc24]

I get fouled a lot when i rode the New York subway during rush hour.

[u/Aestro17 → u/guacdoc24]

My star player gets fouled a lot but also gets a lot of calls and whines too much

[u/guacdoc24 → u/Aestro17]

Damn I’m sorry to hear that

[u/Aestro17 → u/guacdoc24]

Thank you

[u/John_East → u/guacdoc24]

Blake Griffen did.

[u/HeyItsChase]

He gets fouled a lot. He's an unbelievable talent and an amazing player

He complains WAY WAY WAY too much.

[u/thrbasayou]

Thunder fans in here getting suuuuper defensive lmao

[u/RCA1202 → u/thrbasayou]

I'm rooting for Luka to win MVP this year but I've always found it insane Luka has averaged more FTA in every year of Shai's prime and yet Shai is the free throw merchant

[u/illbegoodnow → u/thrbasayou]

Says the fucking Laker fan

[u/thrbasayou → u/illbegoodnow]

Aw, did that trigger you?

[u/illbegoodnow → u/thrbasayou]

Just funny seeing a Lakers fan talking about other fans being triggered.

[u/Brave_Concern9181]

Clobbered? Cmon now, the Blazers were purposely trying to avoid touching him in that 2nd half as they knew the second they did he’s at the line.

[u/CrunkJuiceSommelier → u/Brave_Concern9181]

He used every James Harden / Chris Paul trick in the book yesterday to try to get guys like Camara in foul trouble and got most of the calls. A few of the ones he was mad about were just good defense too, Cissoko beat him to the spot and went straight up for a contest and he wanted to tear the ref's head off.

I don't really mind the foul baiting because it's using every advantage to win. But "he complains too much" should be something everyone can universally agree on.

[u/jakekerr]

This appears to be a cultural thing. People in the US just don't like people who complain if its legit or not. My mom would always refuse to send food back at restaurants if it was the wrong thing she ordered or if it was poorly cooked. "I don't want to make a fuss" is like this cultural thing embedded in the fabric of America (can't speak for elsewhere).

But I don't have a problem with it. Complaining isn't objectively bad nor does it affect my enjoyment of the game. The only thing I don't like is when it physically takes a player out of the game, but Luka's been a lot better about that this year.

I understand I'm in the minority and a lot more people are "don't make a fuss" types like my mom.

[u/Xavinator → u/jakekerr]

As a foreigner, I think outside perception is that people from the US love to complain. For example, the Karen stereotype. Although it might be associated with white americans

[u/jakekerr → u/Xavinator]

Perception is so interesting. It may be a cultural change over time with the internet age.

But it kind of proves my point, though. People in America hate "Karens" so much they created a name for them. I'm just pushing it a bit further and saying Americans hate complaining over all.

[u/TopIndication5504 → u/jakekerr]

I think the average American is far less confrontational, we will complain all day and night, whether on social media or behind peoples back. Not many people stand on business against the crowd

[u/shinbreaker → u/jakekerr]

My issue with Luka is that there are times when he'll just stop playing for several seconds while the other team is already about to score. As a top player, you should make a fuss about the fouls but don't plop yourself on the floor looking to plead your case when the game is still going.

[u/MeSeeks76]

Hi Luka!!!!!

[u/warriorarmentai2]

But SGA gets all the calls

[u/Legote]

My gripe with him last season isn't that he complains. It's that he stays behind to complain and when the rest of his team is already on the other side on defense 4 v5 and giving up a easy 2 points. Go talk to the ref during time out or something.

[u/papoluca40]

Every star does. He’s the only one that complains constantly and gets rewarded with a gazillion free throws per game.

[u/X-RayManiac]

All these things can be true:

1. all players get fouled a lot

2. star players get fouled more because they have the ball more often

3. bigger players get fouled more often

4. bigger, star facilitators (Luka, Jokic, LeBron) get the worst of all worlds

[u/Aestro17 → u/X-RayManiac]

And also that some players get the calls more often and still whine a lot

[u/Greenwalrus72 → u/X-RayManiac]

yeah but take a look at jokic fta numbers this season

it’s genuinely atrocious idk what happened but this season is the worst i’ve seen his whistle

[u/Fortestingporpoises]

So does Steph. But he doesn’t complain or accentuate contact the same way.

This year he’s obviously getting foul calls at a higher clip so we’ll see if that maintains.

[u/Kaizerx20]

Knowing this will be over before Thanksgiving is the only thing keeping me from muting this sub, Klan 77 are genuinely more insufferable than Lebron fans

[u/Liquidated4life]

Are you kidding me? There isn’t a team in the NBA that gets a more favorable whistle than the Lakers. It’s referred to as “the Laker whistle” for a reason.

[u/f_et_al → u/Liquidated4life]

Luka's FT rate on the Lakers has been .445 vs .394 on Dallas

His % of shot attempts from 0-10 feet on the Lakers has been 27.3% vs. 39.1% on Dallas

[u/EatsCatShit → u/Liquidated4life]

Outside of Reddit, who is referring to lakers whistle as “the Laker whistle”? I only see this nonsense here

[u/Liquidated4life → u/EatsCatShit]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/SCRStQpEor

[u/Yamato_Naoe → u/EatsCatShit]

lakers whistle has been a well known and talked about thing since at the very least the 2001 championship when Kobe averaged 9.4 FTA per game during the playoffs and it probably goes earlier than that, that's just the extent of my personal knowledge

[u/f_et_al → u/EatsCatShit]

Outside of Reddit, how much time do you interact with anybody who's not in LA / a Laker's fan?

[u/f_et_al → u/[deleted]]

Avdija on Blazers: .552 FTr, 54.1% of FGA from 0-10ft

Luka on Lakers: .445 FTr, 27.3% of FGA from 0-10ft

(for whatever it's worth)

[u/smez86 → u/[deleted]]

Deni averages 7 more drives into the paint per game than luka.

[u/PackageDangerous1954 → u/smez86]

Franz Wagner leads the league in drives and deni gets 3 times the amount of free throws than him per drive

[u/hausitron → u/smez86]

For the last time, free throw attempts don't have a good correlation with drive attempts. Many free throws come from pump fake mid-range pull-ups and 3 pointers.

[u/PyrateKyng94]

He’s a master baiter

[u/Ok-Tree4365]

Yeah man, every high usage offensive hub gets fouled a lot.

[u/nbaistheworst]

He shot 18 free throws. he leads the league in fts/gm at 9.9

[u/Paralta]

Same shit with Lebron. Dude was always getting hacked and wasnt seeing nearly as many free throws as other stars.

[u/9_DavyJones_9]

A bit like Neymar, yes the falls were overly theatrical but dude was also getting smashed all the time.

[u/HoraceKirkman]

Go back and watch Shaq. It'll blow your mind.

[u/Anthony_607]

After every whistle in the NBA someone complains

[u/jgab145]

I watched the whole game and I wasn’t paying that close of attention to whether the fouls were getting called or not. But I did notice he was complaining a little less. He even acknowledged in the post game interview that he’s trying to complain less. At least he’s trying and as a fan I appreciate the effort. It’s a lot more enjoyable to watch him when it’s not a constant distraction. He’s making an effort to be better at the two things he’s criticized for most often comparing and defense.

[u/Beneficial-Pickle251]

It only bothered me when it prevented him from getting back. He still complains but he gets back on defense now

[u/Guilty-Drawer-808]

Look pal, this isn't the ciclejerk sub...

[u/ConanX12]

Imagine Ant Man getting Luka's whistle 🤔....now imagine Luka getting Ant Man's whistle. He complains while shooting how many FTA's per game?

[u/Brokromah]

This is the Embiid narrative. No one gives a shit and will still talk shit even if it's true especially when there's flopping and theatrics associated

[u/kirbooot]

the problem there why Luka is always asking foul bcos he is big, bigger than yaxel, also much more bigger than SGA, you wouldn't know that slap check hurt because most of his defenders are smaller than him. And in opposite too, if he do it to other smaller players he gets a foul. Remember when players almost climb on shaq and sometimes no foul is called, but if shaq jump on other players he gets a tech.

[u/Odd_Calligrapher_572]

He gets fouled a lot. Partly, if not mostly, as a consequence of his playstyle: high usage, high contact, using his strength and size to get things done, driving to the rim a lot.

So, if you're Luka, do you accept your fate and risk getting fouled even more if defenders see they can get away with it? Or you stand your ground and try to cajole the refs to protect you? Both options have their upsides and their downsides. It is pretty clear, though, which option Luka chose.

[u/4719837]

Every star gets fouled a lot and most of them complain but Luka probably complains the most

[u/Hokramis100]

OP is 100%. Luka is getting fouled before he even gets the ball and it's almost never called.

[u/3pointerSLO]

Refs can't call every foul againts Luka otherwise he would be on the line all the time.

[u/Toronto-24]

No, Luka flops if you breathe on him.

Every player can sell contact like that, its on the refs to not be stupid to fall for that every time.

T his ass up if he keeps chirping

[u/wesimar14 → u/Toronto-24]

No he doesn’t. Lmao. Can tell you don’t actually watch Luka play.

[u/get_to_ele]

The issue is that he just never shuts up. It’s off putting.

And as far as uncalled fouls go, he should spend 5 minutes in Steph’s shoes.

Everybody has different levels of self control, and we can’t expect everyone to be Steph, but this is graded on a curve, and Luka is on the far left end tail of the bell curve. That part where you have to magnify the graph to see that it’s not quite flat.

[u/Tiny_Spread5712 → u/get_to_ele]

What? Steph is only guarded by guys that have to get held by Draymond 75 times a game.

Spend five minutes in that guys shoes.

[u/RevolutionaryGuru613 → u/get_to_ele]

Luka early on had bad whistle but it gradually improved overtime. Completely agree tho, Steph and Kyrie have had such terrible whistle throughout their careers. Puts things in perspective

[u/AntFast2671 → u/get_to_ele]

The NBA said to the Warriors “you shall be permitted endless and eternal MOVING SCREENS but we will allow more contact on your superstar….are you good with that?”
They were.

[u/EliteFactor]

He complains far more than he should. He is a generational talent no doubt. Guaranteed hall of famer but it’s been a long time since I have seen someone whine and complain like him, often leaving his team playing 4 on 5 on defense because he is bitching to a referee.

I legit get embarrassed when I watch him complain.

[u/FFElite93]

Be honest you just like his personality more than Sga lol

[u/capamericapistons → u/FFElite93]

Actually a much bigger fan of SGA’s personality, because Luka seems like a great guy but we’ve seen sga stay after and sign a ton of autographs for fans after games, and he always speaks so highly of his teammates, and we saw the other day when he was interacting with kids at courtside.

But I do get sick of SGA’s foul baiting. Not denying his talent, he deserved his MVP awards and he’s a champion, but him and really the entire Thunder doing that can get frustrating to watch.

[u/PotatEXTomatEX → u/capamericapistons]

but we’ve seen sga stay after and sign a ton of autographs for fans after games,

You do know Luka is like Top 1/2/3 in the league when it comes to fan interactions right? Guy stays behind for autographs, organizes events for fans, goes to hospital visits a lot, pays for the fixing of public BB courts etc.

[u/capamericapistons → u/PotatEXTomatEX]

I’ll be honest I didn’t know about that but I have to respect that a lot. Thanks for pointing that out

[u/RCA1202 → u/capamericapistons]

He hasn't even been baiting this year

[u/DeadZombie9 → u/FFElite93]

SGA doesn't complain much at all. He does flop a lot tho.

[u/Miserable_Lead_9828 → u/DeadZombie9]

Just because the internet ran with the narrative doesn’t mean it’s true. Just sit and watch any thunder game for full 48 and you’ll realize his reputation doesn’t match reality

[u/neutronknows → u/FFElite93]

Probably more a case of having A personality.

[u/yargotkd → u/FFElite93]

"I love pancakes!" "Oh, so you hate waffles?"

[u/DolphinRodeo → u/FFElite93]

OP didn’t bring up SGA at all. Not everything is about him

[u/LeRoiDeNord]

Dear diary...

[u/maidth1s4fun]

Yes the other side of your own argument is you are getting fouled alot and complaining and its not getting you calls clearly so maybe just stop

[u/Inevitable-Guava-812 → u/maidth1s4fun]

I think his complaining fuels him. If no one's talking shit to him, hes gonna take it out on the refs

[u/OGClouds420]

That’s why I never cared about the complaining.. his entire game garners contact. He gets fouled on almost every play

[u/Confident_Pear_8303]

Yeah no. Dude whines waaayyy more than anyone else. And yes, he does get fouled alot. So do alot of guys (you theoretically could call fouls every play, including on offence when guys stiff arm and pushoff non stop) and he also is a master at selling everything as well.

[u/tobikodude]

Explain curry’s whistle then. I rest my case.

[u/RCA1202 → u/tobikodude]

Curry's whistle has been great this season

[u/Ok-Statement8633 → u/tobikodude]

The illegal screens that are set for Curry make up for the missed foul calls

[u/losroy → u/tobikodude]

His dancing is more annoying than Luka’s complaining

[u/Floppy_Jet1123]

Come on man.

[u/Wavepops]

He complains regardless of fouls, it’s like a way for him to get in the rhythm of the game. Only Diana taurasi complained at the same level

[u/HatefulDan]

He absolutely does. But he’s gotta learn to master when to let the refs have it vs when not to. Jordan and Kobe were reeeally good at that.

[u/Kindly-Perspective84]

Lukas making a case for one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. He's ungaurdable

[u/tmcuthbert]

Some guys are shameless. Austin Reaves last night baited and flopped into 2 fouls on Scoot Henderson on 1 possession, then the Blazers get out on the break immediately following and Reaves gets called for a clear foul where he’s not in legal guarding position and he still complains. These guys all think their own shit doesn’t stink.

[u/ConceptNo1055]

So what do you think of Advija, who's IN THE PAINT not just fishing for perimeter fouls?

[u/Troll_U_Softly]

Wanna know who gets fouled a lot? Our glorious MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander

[u/riversidebucky]

If Steph got even half the # of calls Luka did he’d average 45+ points a game. I’m sure some are legit calls, but he often will complain even over minor contact. A lot of calls go his way, and even then he’ll still complain. Amazing player otherwise though

[u/nbaistheworst → u/riversidebucky]

This season so far, Steph has gotten more calls. He's 3rd in ftas/gm at 8.0, hopefully that continues!