Former Sacramento television anchor Kellie DeMarco says her husband meant no harm when he returned a basketball to a referee during a Kings game, an exchange that ended with his removal from courtside seats after Luka Doncic intervened.
In an Instagram post, DeMarco identified the ejected spectator as her husband and offered her account of his intentions. She did not identify him by name in the caption.
“Yes, this is my sweet husband, and yes, he’s the guy who got ejected from an NBA game,” she wrote. “I spent nearly 20 years in TV news, and he’s getting more airtime than me!”
DeMarco said her husband had played basketball for years and joked that “the chest pass muscle memory never left.” She added: “He meant no harm, he feels terrible that it came across the wrong way, and he has nothing but respect for the officials.”
The incident occurred during the Lakers’ 116-103 victory over the Kings on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Golden 1 Center. According to Yahoo Sports, the spectator caught the ball after it went out of bounds late in the third quarter and threw it forcefully toward an official who was not prepared for the return. Doncic called officials and security over, and the man was escorted out.
“He just tossed it really strong, the ball, toward the ref,” Doncic said afterward, according to Yahoo’s account citing ESPN. “I just asked him what the hell he’s doing.”
DeMarco’s explanation addresses intent, which cannot be established simply by the force of a pass. In an SB Nation column, Ricky O’Donnell questioned whether the ejection was warranted and wrote that he could not determine whether the spectator acted maliciously.
Doncic has been involved in other courtside disputes, including a fan’s removal during a 2024 Mavericks-Suns game. In a separate 2025 incident, Doncic himself was ejected after an exchange he said was directed at a spectator rather than an official. Those episodes involved different circumstances.
DeMarco, whose departure from KCRA to start a communications business was announced by the station in December 2019, closed her post by thanking supporters and affirming the couple’s affection for Sacramento.
“We love the Kings and this community,” she wrote, adding a joke about commenters comparing her husband’s appearance to Golden State coach Steve Kerr: “And no, he is not Steve Kerr.”
