Goga Bitadze Denies Using Family Slur Toward Luka Doncic
goga-bitadze-denies-family-slur-toward-luka-doncic
Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze on Sunday disputed Luka Doncic’s claim that he directed an obscene remark at the Los Angeles Lakers star’s family during Saturday night’s game at Kia Center in Orlando.
Doncic and Bitadze received double technical fouls with 2:10 left in the first quarter of the Lakers’ 112-105 victory. The call was Doncic’s 16th of the season, triggering an automatic one-game suspension unless the NBA rescinds it.
Doncic’s allegation
Speaking to Spectrum SportsNet after the game, Doncic said Bitadze told him “he would f*** my whole family,” prompting the verbal exchange that led to the double technicals. The MVP candidate added that he hoped the league would overturn the call so he would not “let my team down” with a suspension.
Bitadze’s response
In an interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Bitadze categorically denied insulting Doncic’s relatives.
“I have all the respect for Luka and what he has done,” Bitadze said. “Family is sacred where I come from, and I would never directly say anything about somebody’s family.”
The Georgian big man explained that the trash talk unfolded in Serbian, a language he picked up while playing professionally in Serbia. According to Bitadze, Doncic first made an inappropriate comment about his mother, and he simply echoed the statement back.
“If he feels I crossed the line, I apologize as a man,” Bitadze added. “But I didn’t say anything more than what he said to me.”
Lakers plan to appeal
Head coach JJ Redick said Los Angeles will ask the league office to rescind Doncic’s technical. “There were certain things said in a language the referees couldn’t understand that referenced Luka’s mom,” Redick told Spectrum SportsNet. “The refs didn’t have really good control of that basketball game.”
Doncic had gone eight straight contests without a technical foul, all Lakers wins, before Saturday’s incident. If the call stands, he will miss Monday’s home game against the Detroit Pistons.
No more meetings this season
The Lakers and Magic have completed their two regular-season matchups and would not face each other again until next year unless they meet in the NBA Finals.
Source: LakersNation.com
