Ex-Mavs HC Rick Carlyle: NBA did the right thing by canceling Luka’s 16th tech

Photo: Dallas Mavericks/Twitter

Despite their tainted relationship, which led to a split last year in 2021, former Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlyle appears to still support Luka Doncic.

Carlisle, now head coach of the Indiana Pacers, believes the league has the right to overturn Doncic’s 16th technical foul.

“Like many great players, he gets hit in just about every game,” Carlisle said ahead of the Mavs’ 127-104 victory over the Pacers on Monday. “I saw him up close.

“As a coach, I lead the league in technical fouls among coaches (11). I emphasize, with disagreements with officials. Sometimes it gets emotional, but I’m not at all surprised that it got cancelled.”

Doncic recorded his 16th technical record last Sunday in a loss to the Charlotte Hornets as he continued to complain about not being called in his shot attempt.

The league eventually called it off on Monday, allowing the superstar to avoid a one-game suspension.

“I actually didn’t look into what happened very closely,” Carlisle said of the incident. “At this point, unless it’s something truly supernatural, with something that everyone is competing for, you can’t let the guy lose the game.”