'He Said Something I Didn't Like': Mavs Star Luka Doncic Responds To Kings Coach's Trash Talk

DALLAS - Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic got his feathers ruffled by some alleged trash talk administered by Sacramento Kings coach Luka Walton, and while Luka did a bit of talking back, he mostly responded with his play ... 33 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists while coming off a seven-game absence due to an ankle injury in a blowout win.
Welcome back, Luka!@luka7doncic meets with @SkinWade after a triumphant 33 pt return!#MFFL pic.twitter.com/wJLpj2W2TL
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) February 13, 2020
"He said something I didn't like,'' Doncic said following the 130-111 victory. (Game story here.)
In the final moments of the third quarter, the officials didn't like something Walton said to/about Doncic.
Kings coach Luke Walton after picking up a technical in the 3rd quarter, calls over to Luka Doncic and says:
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) February 13, 2020
"Hey Luka, do me a favor, give him your autograph after the game. (points at official) - He's a fan, he's a fan of yours." 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/HU1SQ5oQe7
"Hey Luka, do me a favor, give him your autograph after the game. (points at official) - He's a fan, he's a fan of yours."
The All-Star-Game-bound Doncic responded by telling Walton, “Don’t do that,” per the Sacramento Bee.
After the game, Walton tried to spin things back into control.
“I have all the respect in the world for Luka,” Walton said. “He got what he wanted tonight, wherever he wanted. I wasn’t saying anything to him. I don’t know if he thought I said something to him. He had a great game, he’s a great player and he led his team to victory. You’ve got to give him credit.''
Kings coach Luke Walton says he has “all the respect in the world” for Luka Doncic. pic.twitter.com/qpK6OgtTch
— Jason Anderson (@JandersonSacBee) February 13, 2020
Walton's claim is not entirely true. But crawling backward from his exchange with Luka Doncic is probably wise. He's one of the best players in the world on a normal day ... and apparently a bit inspired when a foe "says something I didn't like.''

Mike Fisher - as a newspaper beat writer and columnist and on radio and TV, where he is an Emmy winner - has covered the NBA and the Dallas Mavericks since 1990. He has for more than 20 years served as the overseer of DallasBasketball.com, the granddaddy of Mavs news websites.