“Shame on You”: Luka Doncic’s Coach Attacks Refs for Ignoring France’s Hostile Act vs Lakers Star

EuroBasket 2025 was always expected to test the resolve of Luka Doncic and Slovenia, but few could have predicted just how heated things would become against France. After an opening loss to Poland on August 28, Slovenia entered their clash with France desperate to bounce back. Instead, they suffered a second straight defeat, and this time, the controversy surrounding the officiating stole the headlines as much as the basketball itself.

Doncic, who poured in a game-high 39 points along with 8 rebounds and 9 assists, once again shouldered the burden for Slovenia. But in the fourth quarter, a single sequence ignited outrage from the Slovenian bench and left head coach Aleksander Sekulić delivering a fiery message to the referees that reverberated far beyond the arena.

The flashpoint came late in the game when Doncic, tightly guarded, had the ball stripped by a French defender. As he tried to recover possession, he was clearly pushed away, an act Slovenia’s bench believed was unsportsmanlike. To their disbelief, the referees allowed play to continue, offering no foul call despite the obvious contact. Instead of penalizing France, officials turned their attention to Slovenia’s furious protests.

That was when Sekulic could be heard yelling directly at the referees: “Shame on you.” The moment encapsulated Slovenia’s frustration with what they saw as a pattern of unfair officiating. To make matters worse, instead of addressing the push, referees assessed a technical foul against Doncic, punishing the star for his reaction rather than the defender’s shove.

For fans who follow Luka Doncic closely, the scene carried an air of déjà vu. The Lakers star has a well-documented history of clashing with referees across both the NBA and FIBA competitions. In 2025, he was ejected during a regular-season game against the Oklahoma City Thunder after officials misinterpreted trash talk aimed at a fan as verbal abuse toward them. The NBA would later rescind the technical, admitting the call was wrong, hardly the first time Doncic had been on the wrong side of questionable officiating.

Go back further, to the 2021 Olympic semifinal against France, and Doncic’s frustrations with FIBA referees were again on display. After a heartbreaking loss, he famously shouted, “FIBA is probably happy” in reference to calls he felt went against Slovenia. Even in Slovenia’s EuroBasket opener against Poland just days ago, Doncic was slapped with a technical foul for protesting a no-call on a drive , a moment broadcasters marked as a turning point in that game.

The France incident only added fuel to the fire. For Doncic, it seems every major tournament has at least one moment where officiating decisions loom as large as his box score dominance.

Sekulic’s Bold Approach

Slovenia’s head coach, Aleksander Sekulic, has gained respect from fans for how directly he manages Doncic’s emotions. Unlike Lakers coach JJ Redick, who often takes a more diplomatic stance, Sekulić has been unafraid to confront both his star and the referees head-on. Earlier in the tournament, he was even seen gesturing for Doncic to “zip his mouth” during heated exchanges with officials.

But against France, Sekulić made it clear he was willing to go to battle for his player. His sharp rebuke, “Shame on you” , was a public declaration that, in his eyes, the referees had failed to uphold the standards of fair play. For a Slovenian team already under pressure after a 0-2 start, his words highlighted not only the importance of Doncic to the squad, but also the growing frustration with the way EuroBasket games are being called.

At the heart of the controversy lies the fundamental difference between FIBA and NBA officiating. In the NBA, referees often allow more physical play, particularly when it comes to hand checks, bumps, or even light pushes, so long as the action doesn’t drastically alter the shot. FIBA, on the other hand, is known for being stricter in some areas, especially when it comes to shooters, but also less inclined to give stars special treatment.

Doncic himself once admitted this dynamic in 2021: “I don’t really get calls in the NBA, I don’t think.” Yet ironically, at EuroBasket 2025, the opposite seems true; the referees appear determined not to give him the benefit of the doubt, even when he’s shoved off the ball. For Slovenia, the no-call on France’s push and the subsequent technical foul against Doncic symbolized exactly that “no-special-treatment” stance.

Ultimately, the fallout of the referees’ decisions proved costly. France capitalized on the momentum shift, closing out a 103–95 victory. Sylvain Francisco led the way with 32 points for France, supported by Alexandre Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly, who chipped in 12 and 13 points respectively. For Slovenia, Doncic’s monster line of 39 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists wasn’t enough to prevent their second straight loss.

Now sitting at 0–2 after defeats to Poland and France, Slovenia faces an uphill battle to advance in the tournament. The frustration of their coach, the brilliance of Doncic, and the ongoing officiating drama have all become central narratives in their EuroBasket campaign.

The bigger question now is how Luka Doncic and Slovenia will respond. Can they channel the fire from these controversial moments into a turnaround, or will the officiating narrative continue to overshadow their performance?

Sekulić’s defiance, Doncic’s brilliance, and Slovenia’s winless record set the stage for a dramatic next chapter. But one thing is certain: this team will keep fighting, whether the whistles go their way or not.

Do you think Luka Doncic is being unfairly targeted by referees at EuroBasket 2025, or are officials simply holding him to the same standard as everyone else?