Doncic: I've been 'complaining way too much'

Luka Doncic admitted he's "complaining way too much" as the Dallas Mavericks talisman looks to avoid a critical 16th technical foul and the automatic one-game suspension that comes with it.

"I wasn't myself this season. Complaining way too much. And I've got to work on that," Doncic told TNT's broadcast following Thursday's 113-109 win over the Brooklyn Nets when asked whether he'll control his emotions down the stretch.

Players receive a one-match ban for accumulating 16 technical fouls in a season and an additional one-game suspension for every two subsequent techs. Those totals do not carry over to the postseason.

"It's something that I'm not supposed to do. (It's difficult) with all the emotions in games, but obviously, I've got to stop," Doncic told reporters afterward, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "It's just hard for me on the court with all the emotions, but I realize it and I've got to work on this. It's tough to do it, but I've got to work on it and be way better than this."

A potential suspension could prove costly for a Mavericks side that sits fifth in the Western Conference standings, one game up on both the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers. Dallas has six games left on the slate, all coming against teams currently below .500.

Doncic put up another impressive stat line Thursday with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. It was the 40th time the Slovenian led his team in all three categories, the second-most times a player has done so in his first three seasons in league history behind Elgin Baylor's 41, per ESPN Stats & Info.