Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle had high praise for Luka Doncic after watching the superstar dominate in the Los Angeles Lakers 128–117 victory. Carlisle even went as far as calling Doncic the greatest player he has ever coached.
Carlisle’s comments came after Doncic delivered one of the most dominant performances of the season, erupting for 44 points along with nine rebounds and five assists while controlling the game from start to finish. The performance once again highlighted why the Lakers’ star is considered one of the most dangerous offensive players in the league.
Speaking after the game, Carlisle praised both Doncic’s talent and his competitive personality.
“He’s a fiery competitor. I don’t see that changing. But look, he’s great. He’s one of the greatest. He’s the greatest player I’ve ever coached, just in terms of sheer ability. He’ll be an MVP.”
“I’ve got to be careful because I coached Dirk Nowitzki, who’s in the Hall of Fame, seventh on the all-time scoring list, and we won a championship together. But Luka is just the extra special of the most extra special in terms of everything he can do on the basketball floor.”
“And he has amazing charisma too. Show me a great player that isn’t stubborn and doesn’t get pissed off at things, and I’ll show you a guy who’s not a great player. That’s just the way it is.”
That praise carries extra significance given Carlisle’s coaching resume. The veteran coach spent years leading the Dallas Mavericks and worked closely with Hall of Fame legend Dirk Nowitzki. Together, Carlisle and Nowitzki led Dallas to the 2011 NBA championship, one of the most memorable title runs in league history.
Carlisle coached Doncic during the early years of his NBA career, beginning with his rookie season in 2018 in Dallas. Even then, the Slovenian star showed signs of becoming one of the most complete offensive players in the game. What separates Doncic, according to Carlisle, is his ability to control every aspect of a basketball game.
Doncic proved that point again against Indiana. He scored 22 points in the first quarter alone and had already put the Lakers comfortably ahead by the end of the third quarter, allowing him to sit out the final period.
The performance added to what has been an exceptional season for the 27-year-old guard. Doncic is currently averaging 32.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game while shooting 47.5% from the field and 36.2% from three-point range. Those numbers have placed him firmly in the conversation for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award.
Carlisle also defended the emotional side of Doncic’s personality, which has sometimes drawn criticism because of his interactions with referees and opponents. In Carlisle’s view, that competitive fire is not a flaw but a defining trait of elite players. For a coach who has spent decades around superstars, the conclusion was clear.
Carlisle has coached a Hall of Famer, won a championship, and worked with many talented players. Yet when it comes to pure basketball ability, he believes Luka Doncic stands above them all.
