I haven't seen/heard any mention of this, but we're nearly a quarter of the way through the season and Luka hasn't received a single technical foul yet. I've also noticed that he engages with the refs much less.

His excessive attention to/engagement with the refs has been a dark cloud hanging over his reputation his entire NBA career, so wanted to give credit where it's due that he seems to have finally addressed that issue.

I assume JJ has played a big part in this, too. Luka having a coach who he knows will have his back and step in when Luka is getting abused, was a needed change for him.

24 comments

  2. ![gif](giphy|10H4by255F2UsU)

    Welll, when you’re being coached by this guy who doesn’t mind arguing with the refs on your behalf, you let him. lol

  3. I count this on JJ and the coaching team.

    Kidd was awful then at Mavs. Never helped Luka but complained on his techs during season.

  5. Redick had like one tech his entire career and even that was wrongfully given.

    He already has 1 this season. And he got it batting for Luka. Clearly knows his job.

  6. Damn thats for real? Yeah that has to be the coaching staff it shows that got his back more.
    But it also shows that this yeah he is getting more calls ,deserved calls.

  7. JJ gets more fired up than Luka. Jax also pretty much took one for Luka in the last game. Could have been ugly.

  8. Definately less complaining overall. Partially because he’s getting so many calls he did not used to get but I like to believe that it’s also partially because he’s improving on the complaining end

  11. And has improved on defense. And has averaged almost 40 pts and is 3rd in points minus ft.

  14. I mean his teammates also helps him with that. You can clearly see earlier Hayes was willing to take that tech for Luka lol

  16. He is getting better calls as he did until this season. And probably he also matured some, even though he is still a big kid.

  20. When you’re averaging the most free throws per game in the league, and more than 10 free throws a game there’s not much to complain to the refs about.

    His free throw rate went up by 15%, up 10% from when he joined the lakers last year, and almost 14% higher than his career average, sitting at 53.7%.

    Last year in Dallas he was getting 7.0 Free Throws attempting 21 shots,

    In LA it went to 9.0 free throws attempting 20 shots,

    This year he’s getting over 12 free throws a game, attempting 23 shots.

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