Kings head coach Dave Joerger made some headlines after he praised standout rookie Luka Doncic following Sacramento’s tilt against the Mavericks on Sunday. Despite some skepticism about Doncic’s ability to translate his overseas success to the NBA, the 19-year-old is the early frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.
“Perhaps there was an idea that there was a ceiling on him.,” Joerger said, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “I don’t see it, unfortunately for us. But he’s great for them and he’s great for our league”.
Some interpreted Joerger’s comments as veiled criticism of the organization, given his reportedly tumultuous relationship with certain front office members — the Kings passed on Doncic in the NBA Draft and instead used the second overall pick on Duke’s Marvin Bagley III. Doncic was taken third overall by the Hawks and traded to Dallas.
On Monday, Joerger clarified his comments, stating this praise for Doncic involved “no veiled shots at anybody,” per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link). Instead, Joerger used a high benchmark to predict the ceiling on the Kings’ young core of Bagley and De’Aaron Fox, the fifth overall pick in 2017.
“When we drafted Marvin at 2, we were high-fiving like crazy,” Joerger added. “We got the right guy for us. This isn’t going to be a story in three days and it’ll be definitely buried five years from now when we have the next Durant-Westbrook. That’s how good they’re gonna be.”
Ayton says him and Booker are the next Kobe and Shaq. If OKC had kept Westbrook, Durant, Harden, and Ibaka, where would they be now?
Bankrupt
Might be anyway. Only Miami has a higher payroll.
B/c KD only shot 28% from 3 his first year, anyone 6-11 that shoots better is “the next KD’. Westbrook was sub 40% from the field and sub 30% from 3 his first year, so any slasher that can’t shoot is the next Westbrook. John Wall was the next Westbrook too. Johnathan Issac was last year’s “the next KD”….
KD and Westbrook are generational talents. The comparison here is Westbrook and Fox athleticism. Fox is a better 3 point shooter. Durant is listed at 6’9″ Again the comparison is the athleticism. Durant is still working on his all around game. Bagley will get better.
Durant being listed at 6’9 is akin to listing CC Sabathia at 260lbs…
Durant admitted after joining the warriors he is 7ft with shoes on. He started listing himself as 6’9″ because that was the “prefered” height for small forwards, the position he wanted to play. He didn’t want to be a center. Now he said he maintains the charade to make fun of reporters who call him 6’9″. I’m sure you can find the interview on YouTube.
This guy is coaching the Kings and winning. He can say whatever he likes. If that’s a veiled shot at his own FO, it got by me. Maybe you had to be there.
I love this site, but what does this have to do with trade rumors?
This site wouldn’t survive if it was only about trade rumors, There are many months trades aren’t even made. Like every other site, it’s about the NBA.
I love this site.
It’s become my go-to aggregator for Twitter noise, news, links to other sites’ writing and of course rumours.
This site is about the NBA, period. Nobody is forcing you to visit. Sorry……”whew”, better now.
Unlike the MLB site, “trade” isn’t anywhere in the title. Simply hoops rumors. Meaning any rumor about basketball. Don’t let my ability to comprehend what I read effect you, though.
Please update the header image. Cauley-Stein does not equal Bagley.
Haha Joerger is trolling so hard
Sacto made the overall concensus pick by taking Bagley. Doncic had more critics. Bagley probably has the critics now, but he’s doing fine, 10th in mpg for rookies.
Joerger spoke naturally and truthfully until he got in trouble, isn’t that the way it is. Then, not so much.
Hard to make this comparison right now if they progress in the next few years and their numbers match then make the comparison. To say right now they are comparable to Westbrook and Durrant is just flat out ignore rent. Changs should be more concerned about trying to make the playoffs then making comparisons.
“Changs”?
JOERGER said 5 years from now, not right now. It’s not likely to be right then either, but he had to say something complimentary like that.