Luka Doncic frustrated after loss to France: FIBA is probably happy

2021-08-05T16:18:54+00:00 2021-08-05T16:48:42+00:00.

Antonis Stroggylakis

05/Aug/21 16:18

Eurohoops.net

Luka Doncic wasn’t exactly happy with certain calls or non-calls of the referees.

By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net

Luka Doncic’s disappointment with Slovenia’s loss to France in the second Olympic Games semifinal was more than obvious in the finale with the Dallas Mavericks superstar also expressing his frustration on his way to the locker room.

After the end of the game, Doncic was shouting “FIBA is probably happy” while walking through the media mixed zone per 15min. He was also reported to shout “FIBA happened” while Slovenia big man Ziga Dimec was being asked questions about the game.

Slovenia had several complaints with the officiating and particularly with a play halfway through the fourth period and the score tied at 78 where Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot blocked Jaka Blazic’s layup attempt. Blazic protested that it was a goaltending violation and he received a technical foul.

Doncic, who registered a historic third-ever triple-double in Olympic Games history, was often seen complaining to the referees throughout the game.

Nicolas Batum was the one to basically secure the win of France by blocking Klemen Prepelic’s attempt to win the match via a layup. Doncic complimented the French wing for this huge defensive play, calling it “an amazing block” while also expressing his appreciation for his words to him after the match.

“Nicolas is a class act,” Doncic said per FIBA. “He told me he hates playing against me, but in a good way. That was nice of him, he’s just a class act.”

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