Luka Doncic Has Been Accused of ‘Crying’ After LeBron James Incident

The Los Angeles Lakers walked off the floor in Orlando with more questions than answers. A 110-109 loss to the Magic on Tuesday dropped them to 34-23 and tightened the Western Conference race. The final possession designed for Luka Doncic instead ended in confusion, with LeBron James taking a rushed three-pointer that missed just as the buzzer sounded.

This moment has sparked considerable discussion. On ESPN’s “Get Up,” analyst Tim MacMahon offered pointed criticism of Doncic’s long-standing habits.

Earlier in the third quarter, Doncic failed to get back on defense after arguing for a call, leading to a Magic basket. “Luka’s had two glaring flaws throughout the course of his career, conditioning and crying,” MacMahon said. “The conditioning he has made major strides in. He’s crying as much as he ever has.”

MacMahon added context. “Luka vents his frustration at the referees. So the more he’s frustrated, the more he’s whining, he’s crying, and he worries more about sometimes the three guys in the gray jerseys than the five guys in the opposite jerseys.”

This criticism came right after a pivotal moment. With 6.7 seconds left and the Lakers trailing by one, the ball was inbounded to Doncic. Coach JJ Redick confirmed the play was drawn up for him. “We obviously ran a play for [Luka] to get a look. I felt like we had a decent shot,” Redick said.

Doncic appeared to have space for a three but hesitated, picked up his dribble, and passed to James, who missed a contested attempt. Afterward, Doncic accepted responsibility.

“I know I was open, but I just thought I was a little bit far,” Doncic said. “I probably shouldn’t have picked up the ball and just tried to attack. … That’s on me.”

Los Angeles Lakers forward/guard Luka Doncic (77) talks with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena.Brad Mills-Imagn Images

(Brad Mills-Imagn Images)

James seemed surprised by the pass. “I thought he had a good look,” James said. “I was kind of off balance when he gave it to me. I thought he had a great look.”

Statistically, Doncic nearly produced a triple-double, finishing with 22 points, nine rebounds, and 15 assists in 38 minutes. He shot 8-of-24 from the field and 2-of-10 from three. Since returning from a hamstring strain before the All-Star break, he has averaged 28.3 points, 9.7 assists, and 6.7 rebounds over three games.

Still, the Lakers have lost two straight and four of six. Once firmly in the top six, they are now just two games ahead of the seventh-place Phoenix Suns, with the play-in tournament looming as a possibility.

For a franchise that reshaped its roster to pair James with Doncic in high-leverage moments, the expectation is clear. Big plays. Big shots. Fewer distractions.

The Lakers next face the Suns and Warriors on the road. With playoff positioning at stake, the focus shifts from debate to response.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Luka Doncic Has Been Accused of ‘Crying’ After LeBron James Incident

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