Lakers’ Luka Doncic sends six-word message to Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg after blockbuster matchup originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Luka Doncic and Cooper Flagg were among the high-level contributors featured in the NBA’s blockbuster Friday night matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.
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While Doncic stole the show by recording 35 points and 11 assists on above-average shooting splits (55.6% shooting from the field and 44.4% shooting from three), Flagg was impressive in his own right, finishing with 13 points and 11 assists in the Mavericks’ 129-119 loss (he’s the youngest player in NBA history to dish out 11 dimes).
After the exciting duel, Doncic sent Flagg a six-word message that he’ll likely appreciate.
“I think he’s a good player,” Doncic said while speaking to reporters.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of pressure that comes with the 1st pick so he has a lot on his shoulder, but I think he will become a great player.”
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Although Doncic wasn’t the No. 1 overall pick in his respective draft, he can still relate to Flagg as a top-5 selection (No.3- 2018).
The former Mavericks superstar was also expected to be a standout contributor from Day 1, which is far from simple, given the various factors that can prevent a high draft pick from starting his career on a high note (coaching, supporting cast, front office, etc.).
Fortunately, Doncic found a way to make it happen, averaging 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists while showcasing his sneaky end-to-end speed and wizard-like playmaking nightly. Fast forward to 2025, and Doncic is an even better player than he was in 2018, which has been music to the Lakers’ ears.
The 6-foot-6 Lakers guard is on fire to start the year, contributing 35.1 points, 9.4 assists, and 8.5 rebounds as the Lakers’ dynamic No. 1 scoring option.
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Hopefully, for Flagg’s sake, the Duke product uses Doncic as an example of a player who blocked out outside noise, disregarded the uncontrollable factors, and quickly ascended to superstardom.
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