Luka Doncic furious after fan throws ball at female ref in tense scene: ‘What the hell is he doing?’

Lakers ejection

SACRAMENTO — Luka Dončić’s on-court awareness is as elite as it comes. 

But the Lakers superstar was just as confused as everyone else at Golden 1 Center by a fan’s actions toward a game official Wednesday night.

“He just tossed – really strong – the ball towards the ref,” Dončić said. “I was just asking him what the hell is he doing?”

Looks like the fan throwing the ball at the game official here is what got them ejected from their seat: https://t.co/ckQAmkAX0upic.twitter.com/3iISpDfqzs

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) November 5, 2026

Late in the third quarter of the Lakers’ eventual 116-103 win over the Kings, a loose ball that came after Jarred Vanderbilt blocked Malik Monk’s 10-foot floater attempt dribbled out of bounds into the hands of a fan sitting baseline near the Lakers’ bench.

While multiple Lakers players and the nearest game official pointed in the opposite direction to signal it was going to be the Lakers’ possession, the male fan in a black jacket over a black t-shirt shirt and jeans threw a two-handed pass at referee Chelisa Painter.

The fan goes to chest-pass the ball to the referee. @khobi_price/X

No physical harm was done, with Painter bouncing the ball toward the ground, while Dončić looked and pointed at the fan, appearing to say, “what are you doing?”

Another fan at the arena took video of Dončić appearing to say, “What is wrong with you, man?” after the incident.

Luka Doncic looks toward the fan with bewilderment. @khobi_price/XThe fan is escorted from his esat. @khobi_price/X

Arena security swiftly went to the fan and escorted him out of his seat with 2:35 left in the quarter before play resumed.

The Lakers would go on to win 116-103, improving to 7-2 on the young season. They sit atop the Pacific Division.