Luka Doncic’s most frustrating habit is becoming a serious Lakers problem

When looking at Luka Doncic, there are very few negative things he does on the basketball court. He's an elite scorer, passer, rebounder, shooter, shot-creator, lob thrower, you get the point. There is one thing that sticks out like a sore thumb, though.

Many will point to his defense and the effort he gives as his biggest flaw, but when you factor in how much he does offensively, it's hard to view that as a major flaw. However, one flaw that is harder to overlook is his temper. The way he conducts himself is an issue. This season, Doncic is second in the league in technical fouls with 15. That puts him one tech away from a suspension.

"I heard three other players say the exact same sentence and didn't get a tech. And that's my problem. … I was trying not to talk at all. This is the first thing I said, no warning or nothing," Doncic told reporters about his 15th tech against the Denver Nuggets.

When asked about committing to avoiding a 16th tech and suspension, Doncic said: “We’ll see. I can’t predict the future."

This response from Doncic is incredibly concerning, especially with the playoffs just around the corner and the battle for a top seed out West looking more competitive than ever.

Luka Doncic must regulate his emotions down the stretch

The tech he received in Thursday's game did seem a little out of the blue, as Doncic was doing a solid job staying out of the official's ears. However, when you build a reputation for complaining every time a whistle is blown, your leash is going to be much shorter than the average star.

There's only so much a person can take, and the officials are clearly getting sick and tired of Doncic's antics. Doncic saying he felt targeted just shows a lack of accountability. The NBA wants to see him on the court. He's a top-five player in the league.

With the Los Angeles Lakers losing to the Nuggets on Thursday, maintaining a top-six seed is only becoming harder, especially with the Phoenix Suns right on their tails. The last thing LA wants to be this season is a Play-In team. The additional rest before the playoffs is something this group could really use, especially Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves.

The Lakers need Doncic on the court—they need his big shots, crafty passes, and winning plays down this final stretch of the season.

He's a competitor of the highest degree, and sometimes his emotions get the best of him, but it's time to take accountability. While missing one game for a suspension may seem minuscule to Doncic or even Lakers fans, that one game could be what separates this team from being a top-six seed or falling into the Play-In.