The NBA has suspended Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder for three games for confronting and attempting to strike another player 40 minutes after the Los Angeles Lakers’ win at Crypto.com Arena on Dec. 28.
The Lakers cruised to a 125-101 victory that night and Schroder played 19 minutes off the bench for the Kings, finishing with 11 points, two rebounds and seven assists.
Schroder was going back and forth with Luka Doncic during the game, and according the NBA insider Chris Haynes, he was seeking out Lakers star in the hallway afterwards:
Lakers star Luka Dončić was the player Kings guard Dennis Schröder sought out in the hallway for a confrontation following a Dec. 28 contest, league sources tell @NBAonPrime, @NBATV. Schröder will begin serving 3-game suspension tomorrow.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 11, 2026
Doncic being the player was also confirmed by Dan Woike of The Athletic:
Story coming – can confirm the player Dennis Schroder went after was Luka Dončić pic.twitter.com/geY2RFJnE1
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) January 11, 2026
Doncic is known to talk smack with players and fans during games, typically in a friendly manner, but it appears Schroder took exception with something that occurred. Their back-and-forth during the game that led to the altercation was later documented by Michael Morales and LegendZ:
This may have had something to do with it…
Via _MichaelMorales10 on IG https://t.co/VGnKOqA1cI pic.twitter.com/HVTxkB3thv
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) January 11, 2026
What Luka Doncic Really Said To Dennis Schroder
:
Luka: “All talk… I wish you would swing!”
Schroder: “Come to the back, I’m not the n**** to talk to!”
Luka: “Man!”
Schroder: “I’ll beat the sh*t out of you” pic.twitter.com/6Ga9tcTaFE
— LegendZ (@legendz_prod) December 30, 2025
The Lakers are set to play the Kings again on Monday night in Sacramento, which Schroder will not be able to suit up for barring an appeal of his suspension.
In the Lakers’ Dec. 28th win, Doncic led the way with 34 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Even without Schroder on the court this time around though, there certainly will be added intrigue between the division rivals.
Luka Doncic laments ‘terrible’ play in Lakers loss to Bucks
Doncic will be looking to bounce back in another way against the Kings though as he is coming off one of his worst games in Friday night’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He had 24 points but shot just 8-of-25 from the field, to go along with nine rebounds and nine assists. The Lakers star also fouled out in the final minute on a foul on Kevin Porter Jr. shooting a 3-pointer, which ended up being the difference.
Doncic did not make any excuses after the loss though, simply saying he played terribly throughout the night.
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