The NBA world will be laser-focused on one particular matchup on Friday.
With Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks preparing to face Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers at home, there’s no question all eyes will be on the marquee early-season matchup.
Leading up to arguably the most highly anticipated contest of the year thus far, Flagg sent a confident eight-word message to Doncic and the Lakers.
"I would say to me, it's another game," Flagg told the Dallas Morning News’ Mike Curtis on Monday. "I know there's gonna be a lot of other things that go into that game and through a lot of these guys' mindsets and whatnot.”
“For me, it's just another game. I'm trying to survive day by day, take everything one day at a time, one game at a time. Right now, we're just trying to find ways to win."
Cooper and Flagg are headed in two completely different directions from a team success standpoint in late November.
While Cooper is exhibiting promise on a lowly 5-14 Mavericks squad (he’s averaging 15.9 points and 6.4 rebounds through 18 games, Doncic is making an impressive MVP case (he’s averaging 34.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.8 assists in 12 outings) on a Lakers squad that possesses the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.
Still, Flagg has the right attitude days before the Mavericks’ upcoming clash vs. Doncic and the Lakers, and the Duke product shouldn’t allow outside noise to negatively impact his development in Dallas.
Doncic, on the other hand, likely had the contest circled on his calendar weeks in advance.
The Mavericks foolishly traded the five-time All-Star to the Lakers in February, forcing him to continue his NBA career with a Los Angeles squad that had been at a standstill since winning a title in 2020.
Unsurprisingly, Doncic has made Dallas pay for its unacceptable mistake, not only shining as the Lakers' No. 1 scoring option but also guiding the franchise toward contention.
Expect Doncic and the Lakers to put themselves in a position to secure a valuable road win over the Mavericks on Friday night.
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