Dennis Schröder, the veteran guard for the Sacramento Kings, has been suspended for three games without pay by the NBA following a heated incident that occurred after the team’s December 28 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The league has ruled that Schröder confronted and attempted to strike another player following the game, which led to the disciplinary action.
Although the NBA’s official suspension announcement did not name the opposing player involved, multiple credible reports identify Luka Dončić of the Lakers as the player Schröder confronted in the arena hallway roughly 40 minutes after the game ended.
According to the league statement, the suspension stems from Schröder initiating contact and attempting to strike Dončić after tensions carried over from their on-court interactions during the game. Video clips from the December 28 matchup showed the two players exchanging heated words during the contest, including a moment in which Dončić taunted Schröder about a past contract decision.
Dennis Schröder’s suspension costs him salary for the three games he will miss, which include matchups against the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and the New York Knicks. He is currently averaging 13.0 points, 5.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds this season over 31 games (12 starts) for the struggling Kings, who hold one of the worst records in the league.
The incident took place after Sacramento’s 125-101 loss in Los Angeles, a game in which Dončić had a big night with 34 points, while Schröder contributed 11 points and seven assists in limited minutes. Security and team staff intervened to separate the two players at the arena, and the situation reportedly escalated inside a corridor near the locker rooms before authorities escorted the players to their respective buses.
Dennis Schröder, 32, is in his 13th NBA season and has played for 10 different teams. A well-travelled veteran, he has a career scoring average of 13.9 points per game and 4.9 assists per game, though his tenure with the Kings this season has been marked by the team’s broader struggles.
The suspension underscores the NBA’s stance on off-court conduct and attempts to strike another player, even after the final buzzer has sounded. As a result, Schröder will be unavailable for a stretch of games that could impact both his rhythm and the Kings’ rotation as they navigate a challenging season.
