TITLE: NBA Hands Dennis Schröder Three-Game Suspension After Postgame Clash
SLUG: nba-suspends-dennis-schroder-three-games
CONTENT:
The NBA has suspended Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schröder for three games for confronting and attempting to strike Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic, the league announced.
League officials said the altercation took place approximately 40 minutes after the clubs’ December 28 matchup, when Schröder located Doncic in an arena hallway and initiated the confrontation.
The suspension starts with Sunday’s contest against the Houston Rockets and will also sideline Schröder for Monday’s rematch with the Lakers and Wednesday’s game versus the New York Knicks. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the penalty will cost the 30-year-old guard $291,807 in forfeited salary.
Tensions Date Back Years
Hostility between the two guards was visible early in the December 28 game and continued throughout the night. At one point, Doncic taunted Schröder by saying, “You should’ve signed that contract, baby,” referencing the four-year, $84 million extension Schröder declined with Los Angeles in 2021.
The rivalry began on the European circuit and intensified when Schröder’s Germany eliminated Doncic’s Slovenia in last fall’s EuroBasket quarterfinals, Spanish outlet Marca noted. While Schröder has publicly expressed respect for Doncic, the latest flare-up may be tied to Sacramento’s struggles this season.
The veteran guard has also been mentioned in trade speculation as the Kings consider moving veterans before the February 5 trade deadline.
Source: Hoops Rumors
