Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers have thrilled in their final preseason matchup against the Sacramento Kings, keeping the game close late into the fourth quarter. However, one moment stood out when the Lakers’ commentators admitted something that has been a point of contention for a long time, and was recently pointed out by Draymond Green.

During the third quarter, Luka Doncic took a bump on a drive that didn’t draw a whistle, prompting some comments from the Lakers commentators. “It was a bump. It was definitely contact,” one said, before the conversation turned from the missed call to the bigger picture, and how foul-drawing is affected by a player’s standing in the league.

Notably, Danny Green was among the commentators — addressing Doncic’s superstar status and made some insightful comparision. “Now if that was me dribbling the ball, I understand why he wouldn’t call it, but that’s Luka Doncic,” one said. “He can’t just let anybody put hands on Luka… He gets different calls.”

The former Laker and champion Danny Green subtly called out what many refer to as the superstar whistle- for better or worse. Yet, it’s important to note that Green was never tasked with initiating offense or creating for himself or others. His role was that of an offensive extender, thriving as a spot-up shooter and through off-ball movement.

On the other hand, a player like Luka Doncic handles the ball as the focal point of his team’s offense, where his greatest strengths- scoring, playmaking, and foul-drawing- can fully shine. Last season alone, Doncic drew 197 free throws in just 28 games, projecting to his career average of over 500 attempts per season, which underscores how central that aspect is to his game.

Their dialogue captured a narrative that has caught attention in the last few years: star players get the benefit of the doubt, and it’s something that can be noticed immediately, even in early season matchups.

The conversation went further, with one commentator admitting, “Everything should be called equally with everybody, for sure. But it’s just not,” before his colleague bluntly added, “Life’s not fair.” The exchange, despite joking undertones, echoes what some players around the league have felt for years: whistles bend towards players who move headlines and ratings, even if it’s subtle.

Statistically, there wasn’t much separation tonight between the Lakers and the Kings from the charity stripe, with LA going 21-29 while Sacramento went 22-28. But with Luka taking 12 of LA’s 29 by himself, the numbers support the perception. Even in exhibition matches like tonight, borderline calls can reignite one of the biggest debates in basketball: Are all players truly officiated the same way?

Draymond Green Adds Fuel to the Luka Doncic-Free Throw Debate

When the Warriors faced the Lakers in LA, the matchup looked like an afterthought. No LeBron James. No Luka Doncic. But as the Lakers beat the Warriors by 10 points, the storyline quickly shifted to the free throw column.

Golden State took just 8 attempts, compared to the Lakers attempting an astounding 35. The gap was staggering, and it ignited frustrations in Warriors star Draymond Green about whistle bias.

Midway through the third quarter, Lakers forward Jake LaRavia drew a foul on a drive, and Green’s patience snapped. He shouted at the referees, “Free throws is 19 to 0 and LeBron James and Luka is on the bench. Incredible.” Though the Warriors had taken a couple of attempts beforehand, the exaggeration highlighted a league-wide imbalance in officiating.

Though the Warriors had taken some free throws earlier in the quarter, Green exaggerated to make a point about a perceived league-wide imbalance in officiating. The Lakers’ advantage in free throw attempts was indeed significant, and as he pointed out, an optics issue.

The explanation partly lies in playstyle differences: the Warriors attempted 43 three-pointers compared to the Lakers’ 27, meaning Golden State was not attacking the basket as much as Los Angeles. Fouls are more frequently drawn in the paint, where the Lakers focused their offense on shot making from the perimeter.

This was their second of four consecutive games where they attempted more free throws than their opponents, including a matchup against the Suns where the disparity stood at 28-8 in the Lakers favor. Even last season, LA were third in the league in free throw attempts per game, and for Green, this wasn’t just preseason, but deja vu.