Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving haven’t immediately clicked on the court, but that may not even be their biggest problem. Right now, Doncic is only two technical fouls away from drawing his first suspension.
He has 14 tech fouls in 55 games, meaning he is averaging one every 3.9 games.
NBA rules state that a player will face an automatic one-game suspension for drawing 16 tech fouls in the regular season and will also serve a-one game suspension for every two techs they draw after their 16th.
If Doncic continues at the same pace, and even if he misses a game, he is on track to reach 16 tech fouls by the end of March.
By that point, just about every game could be a must-win. They are currently just half a game ahead of the eighth-placed Clippers. The Mavs are 3-7 without Doncic this season.
The 24-year-old was in a similar position last season when he drew 17 techs before the playoffs, but had two rescinded by the league. He also came dangerously close to getting suspended in 2021.
This season, Doncic has the third most technical fouls, behind only Memphis’ Dillon Brooks (16) and Draymond Green (15).