The NBA revealed on Saturday that Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder has been handed a three-game suspension without pay after confronting and attempting to hit another player, later identified by NBA insider Chris Haynes as Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic.
Soon after the suspension became public, Schroder took to Instagram to address the situation.
Dennis Schroder Sends Message After Suspension
In an Instagram Stories post featuring a black background with white lettering, Schroder shared a brief message:
“Be back on court soon.”
Per ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Schroder tried to strike Doncic following the Kings’ 125-101 road defeat to the Lakers on Dec. 28. Schroder, a former Laker, finished with 11 points, seven assists, two rebounds and two steals in 19 minutes, while Doncic recorded 34 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
According to Slater, Schroder and Doncic exchanged words at multiple points throughout the game, including a moment when Doncic taunted Schroder by saying he “should’ve signed that contract,” referencing the four-year, $82 million extension Schroder declined from the Lakers several years ago.
The situation appeared to settle once the game ended, but tensions reignited after Schroder exited the locker room, spotted Doncic and confronted him again in the tunnel near the home bench.
About 40 minutes after the final buzzer, Schroder reportedly approached Doncic and told him he could not call him a “b***h” on the court and then act as if everything was fine afterward. According to Slater, Lakers center Deandre Ayton attempted to pull Schroder, and the Kings guard was later escorted to the team bus.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported that Schroder’s unpaid suspension will cost him $291,807. Schroder is currently signed to a three-year, $44.4 million contract with the Kings.
Both Schroder and Doncic are prominent figures not only in the NBA but also on the international stage. During the EuroBasket semifinal in September 2025, Schroder scored 20 points with seven assists to defeat Doncic’s Slovenia 99-91, despite Doncic posting 39 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
At the NBA level, Doncic owns a 10-5 record against Schroder. The games Schroder will miss include home matchups against the Houston Rockets, Lakers and New York Knicks.
