Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win’s basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here’s Bryan Kalbrosky.
It may sound like Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki is writing fan fiction about Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic as teammates.
But the reality is that Nowitzki’s dream of seeing Doncic and Jokic on the same team one day, while improbable, is not impossible. During a send-off for longtime NBA guard Goran Dragic in Slovenia last week, Nowitzki spoke about the possibility.
Here is what the 2011 NBA Finals MVP said about the 2023 NBA Finals MVP potentially playing alongside Doncic one day (via Eurohoops.net):
“They both have a great relationship with each other, they respect each other and like each other genuinely. They spend time with each other. I’m not sure, but of course, we want Luka in Dallas as long as we can. Hopefully, he finishes his career there, but I love Jokic’s game, how he plays the game with passion, and the skill level as a big is unbelievable. They’re both incredible players.”
During an interview with his teammate Michael Porter Jr. last season, Doncic was one of the first names that Jokic mentioned when asked who he felt were the best players in the league.
The two players also genuinely seemed to enjoy each other’s company at the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. They also goofed around during Dragic’s send-off game.
Last season, Jokic said that he would be open to teaming up with Doncic in the NBA. However, he added that he doesn’t want to leave Denver and that Doncic could join him on the Nuggets if he decides he is done with Dallas.
Cooper Flagg Sneakers
Cooper Flagg is attending Duke next season. Duke is a Nike school. But the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft just signed a deal with New Balance.
How will that work? Mike Sykes has more:
“This wasn’t supposed to happen. We’re not supposed to be here. Cooper Flagg is not supposed to be signed to New Balance today.
Yet, here we are.
This morning, New Balance released a promotional video featuring Flagg. It showed him shooting hoops in a driveway until a paper boy throws a newspaper in the driveway with a headline announcing Flagg’s decision.
New Balance labeled Flagg’s choice as “The Intelligent Choice,” seemingly taking a shot at the competitors around them. This was the brand’s announcement that they’d signed the newly minted Duke basketball star to a shoe deal.”
Shootaround
— Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are tied for the best rating in NBA 2K25
— Kristin Juszczyk designed a sick pair of Kobe Bryant-themed pants for his daughter
— HoopsHypes explained what NBA teams should do with their open roster spots
