Rick Carlisle has coached some of the greatest players in modern basketball, including Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki, during their championship run with the Dallas Mavericks.
But on Friday night, ahead of his Indiana Pacers facing the Los Angeles Lakers, Carlisle made it clear that the most talented player he has ever coached is Luka Doncic.
Luka is just … he’s the extra special of the most extra special,” Carlisle said. “He’s the greatest player I’ve ever coached.
Doncic quickly backed up the praise.
The Lakers star erupted for 44 points through the first three quarters and rested the entire fourth as Los Angeles secured a 128-117 win over Indiana. The victory marked the Lakers’ fourth in their last five games despite playing the second night of a back-to-back after a road loss in Denver.
Doncic was dominant from the opening minutes, scoring 22 points in the first quarter alone – the fifth time this season he has surpassed 20 points in an opening period, the most such games by any NBA player in at least 30 years.
Carlisle said the Pacers had little hope of containing him
“It’s hell, really, because he’s impossible to gameplan for,” Carlisle said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a player that controls an NBA game the way he does.”
Traditional defensive adjustments – speeding him up, slowing him down, or sending double teams – rarely work against Doncic, according to the veteran coach.
“When you double-team him, things get worse because everyone else gets going and there are wide-open shots all over the place,” Carlisle said.
Lakers coach JJ Redick echoed that assessment, pointing to Doncic’s ability to score and create opportunities simultaneously.
“He can make every shot,” Redick said. “He’s a shot maker, but he’s also a playmaker. Whether he’s in single or double coverage, he can read it and create open shots. He’s seen every coverage in this league.”
Doncic’s numbers back up the praise
Carlisle’s praise carries added weight given his history with Doncic. The two worked together during the first three seasons of Doncic’s NBA career in Dallas before Carlisle stepped down in 2021. Despite that separation, the longtime coach said his evaluation of the Slovenian star has only grown stronger.
Through 51 games, Doncic is leading the league with:
- 32.5 points per game
- 8.5 assists
- 7.8 rebounds.
For Carlisle, who has spent decades on NBA sidelines, the verdict is simple. “He’s a fiery competitor,” he said. “I don’t see that changing. But he’s great.”
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