2026 started with bad blood between Luka Doncic and Dennis Schroder spilling over from verbal barbs to a physical confrontation. Yet it’s hard to say who was the chief instigator. Just days after the NBA handed the Kings player a three-game suspension after an unseen incident in the tunnel, an ex-Los Angeles Lakers star claims the series of events was far more volatile than the official statement suggests.

The older of the Morris twins hasn’t practiced for the Lakers for half a year, if not more. He was probably not present during the altercation, but claims to have firsthand details on The Morris Code with his brother, Marcus.

“When I got the call, and they said, ‘Cuz put hands on him,’ I don’t put that past Dennis,” Markieff explained. “He put hands on him, and n—- had to grab Schroder and all this s—… From what I was told they said big fella Ayton grabbed Schroder and pulled him to the side.”

Who called Markieff is unclear. But his ties to the Lakers and Doncic run deep. Between his two short stints in LA, he was Doncic’s teammate in Dallas. Markieff was part of the trade package that sent the Slovenian star to the Lakers. But the team quietly parted with him in the offseason.

Since his time in Dallas, Morris has followed the feud between Luka Doncic and Dennis Schroder, which has been brewing since 2022. And he appears to have corroborated the unconfirmed details of this altercation. According to reports, Schroder was suspended for “attempting to strike” Doncic.

How Markieff Morris’ account lines up with the Doncic-Schroder chain of events

The Kings-Lakers game saw EuroBasket rivals Luka Doncic and Dennis Schroder exchange explicit trash talk. But no one knew it went beyond that until January 10, when the league handed down a punishment to Schroder.

Initial reports said the German guard took issue with Doncic’s words and confronted him in the player area. The situation escalated, and security had to break it up.

But Markieff claims there were multiple layers to this. He seemingly confirms that Schroder was the one who sought Doncic and, therefore, is the provocateur.

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The altercation is a dramatic climax to a rivalry that reignited during the Lakers’ 125-101 victory. During the game, Doncic taunted Schroder about his infamous decision to decline the Lakers’ $84 million extension offer years ago, reportedly telling him, “You should’ve signed that contract, baby.”

While the internet laughed at the trash talk, the post-game fallout indicates that the beef took a personal turn…

Paul Pierce criticized Doncic for using a sensitive subject as banter. Some are sure that was the trigger.

According to NBA insider Anthony Slater and Morris’s confirmation, Schroder left the visitors’ locker room specifically to confront Doncic.

He allegedly told the Lakers guard that he “can’t call him a b—- on the court and pretend everything is fine off the court.”

When things threatened to escalate, it was Deandre Ayton who reportedly stepped in as the peacekeeper. The 7-foot center apparently had to physically “drag him away.” And Ayton’s intervention has been confirmed by multiple sources, including Markieff.

Some say that if it weren’t for Ayton, Doncic would’ve faced consequences too. The NBA has a zero-tolerance policy on these confrontations. It’s what led to Schroder’s subsequent three-game suspension and a $291,807 fine.

On the other side, Lakes fans found new appreciation for Deandre Ayton. Doncic scouted Ayton this offseason to meet his defensive requirements, and the big man has shown that he will step up for his teammate even off the court.

The Lakers can’t afford to lose Doncic to injury or suspension. Ayton’s actions ensured that. But it also showcased the weight of this rivalry. The Kings and Lakers are set for another clash on March 2, and this incident will only heighten the stakes.