James Johnson Reveals How Goran Dragic Told Everyone That Luka Doncic Was Going To Be An All-Time Great

Former Mavericks forward James Johnson said Goran Dragic had warned teammates on the Miami Heat about Luka Doncic before he was drafted.

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Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana Pacers forward James Johnson discussed how Goran Dragic warned players on the Miami Heat about Luka Doncic coming into the NBA to be an all-time great on Udonis Haslem’s podcast ‘The OGs Show’. Despite a slow start from a rookie Doncic, Johnson would watch Dragic’s prophecy come true in real-time.

“Do you remember when we were playing with the Dragon in Miami? He was telling us when once they drafted Luka that he’s going to be one of the best… I was like, ‘Yeah, right. How tall is he?’ Now he starts measuring him to me” 

“He came down and Rick had him playing the four at the time, and he didn’t have no good games at the four. We were talking to Dragon again like, ‘I thought your mans was nice, what’s good?’ He was like, ‘Nah, he’s nice, he just isn’t playing his right position.’ Once Rick put him at the one. That man went wild! Had like four triple-doubles in a row, 30-point games. I was like “Yo, your boy’s a maestro.”” 

Doncic was tipped to be a basketball prodigy when he made his way over to the NBA after dominating the EuroLeague at 17 years old. Many questioned his ability to translate to the NBA, but fellow Slovenian Dragic always maintained that Doncic was going to be an all-time great. 

Luka has already put together a Hall of Fame career at the age of 25 years. He’s made five consecutive All-NBA First Team appearances in six seasons along with five All-Star appearances. He was the 2019 Rookie of the Year and finished second in MVP voting last season, winning the scoring title with ridiculous averages of 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists.

Doncic also carried the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season when most didn’t have them coming out of the first or second round. Dragic has seen Doncic dominate basketball since he was a child and fostered his development as a mentor.


Goran Dragic Boldly Said Luka Doncic Would Be The Best Player In The World In A 2017 Interview

Dragic wasn’t just discussing Doncic’s greatness with his Miami Heat teammates at the time, he was boldly proclaiming the same in a live interview after the pair led Slovenia to an unprecedented EuroBasket title in 2017. 

“He’s going to be the best player in Europe in a couple of years, trust me on that. In the NBA, too. He’s a born winner. I’m not kidding. He already has a lot of trophies, medals, and I’m really happy for him. Mark my words, he’s going to be one of the best in the whole world.”

Doncic has proven every aspect of what Dragic predicted true. He became the best player in Europe by winning Final Four MVP and leading Real Madrid to a title the season Dragic said this, being drafted into the NBA the next year.

Doncic was All-NBA First Team as a rookie for leading what many assumed to be a tanking Mavericks squad to the Playoffs and pushing the title-favorite Clippers to six games in the first round where Doncic put up some of the greatest Playoff debut series numbers of all time. James Johnson was on the roster for that breakout year.

He’s widely considered one of the three best players in the NBA right now, with a league MVP and NBA Championship being the only accomplishments that elude him at age 25.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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