NBA Referee Interrupts Luka Dončić at Microphone

A recent NBA game between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves featured an unusual interaction between a player and a referee. The incident involved official John Butler and Mavericks star Luka Dončić, drawing attention for its lighthearted nature.

Main News

During the game, Luka Dončić approached referee John Butler while Butler was wearing a microphone for a live broadcast. Dončić attempted to speak with the official.

Referee John Butler was seen and heard on the broadcast gently shooing Dončić away. Butler indicated that he could not talk because his microphone was live.

Butler is known within the league for his entertaining and communicative style with players. He has earned the nickname “TV Ted” for his frequent appearances on the in-arena video board and his willingness to explain calls.

The interaction ended without conflict, and Dončić complied. Dončić was later ejected from the game in the fourth quarter for disputing a separate foul call.

Summary

An NBA game was the scene of a notable, good-natured exchange between referee John Butler and player Luka Dončić. Dončić approached Butler while the official was wearing a live microphone for the broadcast.

Butler, known for his engaging on-court persona, was seen shooing the player away. He explicitly stated the reason was that his microphone was active at the time.

The incident concluded without further issue during that moment. Later in the same contest, Luka Dončić received an ejection for arguing a different foul call.

FAQs

**Why did the referee shoo Luka Dončić away?**
Referee John Butler shooed Luka Dončić away because Butler was wearing a live microphone for the broadcast. He indicated he could not talk to the player while the microphone was active.

Who is the referee known as “TV Ted”?
“TV Ted” is the nickname for referee John Butler. He earned this name for his entertaining style and frequent appearances on the in-arena video board during games.

Was Luka Dončić ejected from this game?
Yes, Luka Dončić was ejected from the game. His ejection occurred in the fourth quarter for disputing a foul call, which was a separate incident from the earlier interaction with Butler.