Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic, Dennis Schroder, Lakers
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Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives past Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets as teammate Deandre Ayton #5 sets a screen during the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena on December 25, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was the one who dragged Dennis Schroder away from Luka Doncic when the Sacramento Kings guard reportedly “attempted to strike” the Slovenian after their heated confrontation on Dec. 28.
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Schroder confronted Doncic in the tunnel at Crypto.com Arena nearly 40 minutes after the final buzzer, telling the Slovenian that he can’t call him the B-word and not expect to face the repercussions off the court. Just then, Ayton reportedly intervened to calm down the situation.
“Forty minutes after the buzzer, Schroder went after Doncic, telling Doncic that he can’t call him a “b—-” on the court and pretend everything is fine off the court. The NBA concluded that Schroder attempted to strike Doncic,” Slater reported.
“Lakers center Deandre Ayton tried to drag away Schroder from the confrontation while a stunned Doncic attempted to exit as security intervened,” added the insider.
Dennis Schroder Suspended
The ESPN report added that Schroder was eventually escorted to the team bus by Kings head coach Doug Christle, while several of his teammates “sought answers” for his reason to snap at the Lakers star in the tunnel.
“Doncic and his father, Saša, eventually walked to their nearby car and left, as Schroder and his Kings teammates prepared to leave on the team bus.”
Schroder was suspended for three games without pay by the NBA on Saturday for “confronting and attempting to strike another player.” While the league office did not name Doncic, subsequent reports confirmed the Lakers star was the targeted player.
The stunning postgame incident was directly related to an in-game exchange in which Doncic called Schroder the B-word and told him that he “should’ve signed that contract” in reference to Schroder turning down a four-year, $82M extension with the Lakers back in 2021. Subsequently, he was forced to settle for a one-year, $5.9M deal with the Boston Celtics as a free agent, losing out on a lot of money.
Luka Doncic Recruited Ayton to Lakers
According to ESPN, the situation between Shroder and Doncic “appeared to cool off” after the game until the German left the visitors’ locker room and went after Doncic.
It’s rather interesting that Deandre Ayton had Doncic’s back during the scary incident. As is widely documented, Doncic recruited the former No. 1 overall pick to join the Lakers as a free agent last summer after the Portland Trail Blazers waived him.
Ayton confirmed as much in his introductory news conference last July.
“This feels like a video game, like somebody set it up,” Ayton said of linking up with Doncic, who was part of his draft class back in 2018.
“This is an opportunity that I won’t take for granted. Luka is a once-in-a-generation player, and I’m happy to be his teammate. Hearing about the kind of shape he’s been in, he’s super ripped, and I’m finally glad to be on his side.”
The Lakers (23-13) and Kings (8-30) will face off for the first time Monday since Dec. 28. However, Schroder will be out serving the second of his three-game suspension.