How Luka Doncic really feels about Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg

Los Angeles The Lakers walked away with their 14th win season and the sixth in a row after he knocked down Dallas Mavericks Friday night, but the biggest story probably came after the final buzzer.

Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News posted on his X account (formerly known as Twitter) after catching the Lakers superstar Luka Dončić discusses the Mavericks rookie and No. 1 pick. 1 in the 2025 NBA draft Cooper Flagg from Duke after a 129-119 win. Curtis shared a clip with a full response, posting Doncic’s fair grade from beginners.

“I think he’s a good player. Obviously there’s a lot of pressure that comes with being the first pick, so there’s a lot on his shoulders, but I think he’s going to be a great player.”

Asked Luka Doncic about Cooper Flag:

“I think he’s a good player. Obviously there’s a lot of pressure that comes with being the first pick, so there’s a lot on his shoulders, but I think he’s going to be a great player.”

He was also asked about Flagg’s playing. The Mavs rookie had 11… pic.tvitter.com/MTrjDTeKbc

— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) November 29, 2025

Flagg’s show backed up those remarks. His statistics – 13 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists – highlighted how composed he was in his first meeting with Doncic. His 11 assists matched the significance of the comments, confirming that the rookie can handle the primary playmaking duties for the Mavericks moving forward.

Doncic, meanwhilehe controlled the game with 35 points and 11 assists, showing why he remains one of the league’s leading superstars. His performance fueled the Lakers’ 129-119 victory and extended their winning streak to six games, keeping Los Angeles atop the Western Conference standings. Austin Reaves also came up big, finishing with a game-high 38 points to secure the win and continue his blistering start to the 2025-26 NBA season.

For Dallas, he has the task of replacing a player as talented as Doncic – a near-impossible challenge – but the loss still produced a promising result. Novak did not run away from the moment and earned public confirmation from the very star he follows. With the Mavericks at 5-15, his rapid rise has become the clearest cause for optimism through the first 20 games of the season.

The night brought more than a moment of rivalry — it set the stage for a long-term matchup between two elite playmakers. And instead of igniting personal drama, Doncic made it clear that he sees Flag as a future problem for the rest of the league.