On Thursday evening, a fan who taunted Luka Doncic following an injury received a noticeable cheer from Austin Reeves.
Shortly after Doncic went down on the Paycom Center’s floor during the third quarter of a game against the Thunder, Reeves made his way over to confront some Oklahoma City fans who were ridiculing the injured Lakers star.
A courtside spectator shouted about Doncic’s defense as the 27-year-old lay in distress. In response, Reeves reportedly told Doncic to “shut up,” based on footage taken by an onlooker.
“He’s really hurt,” Reeves added.
The heckler, however, clapped back, sparking a tense exchange between them.
“That’s nonsense,” Reeves remarked as he approached the fan. “He’s injured. It’s ridiculous.”
Teammates and other Lakers staff attempted to calm things down, though several moments remained charged.
“Please have some respect,” Reeves said, edging closer to the man. “Show some respect.”
Fortunately for everyone, Reeves eventually stepped away before the situation could escalate further.
It’s uncertain if any disciplinary action will come from the league regarding the incident, and the seriousness of Doncic’s hamstring injury is still unknown.
One thing is clear: the Lakers were defeated by the Thunder, 139-96, in a game that many Los Angeles fans had hoped would affirm their status as serious NBA title contenders.
