Early on Sunday, a report emerged that Cooper Flagg would fly to Los Angeles and play golf the following day with former Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić. The prospect of Flagg and Dončić teeing off together ramped up excitement among NBA supporters.
A few hours after the report came out, a league insider poured cold water on the widely circulated rumor.
NBA Insider Debunks Viral Luka Dončić-Cooper Flagg Rumor
Flagg and Dončić may be forever linked in NBA history, but don’t expect Dallas’ newest franchise star to share a golf course with his predecessor anytime soon.
Rumors recently surfaced suggesting Flagg was set to travel to Los Angeles to meet Dončić, fueling speculation about a symbolic passing of the torch between the two players most closely associated with the Mavericks. The story gained traction because Flagg was drafted to fill the void left by Dončić after Dallas’ blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025.
NBA insider Marc Stein, however, quickly shut down the speculation.
“Not sure who actually believed this one … but for those asking: There’s no golf summit scheduled tomorrow in LA,” Stein tweeted.
“Luka Dončić is in Slovenia and will be for the whole offseason. Cooper Flagg is training in Maine and occasionally Dallas all summer.”
Not sure who actually believed this one … but for those asking: There’s no golf summit scheduled tomorrow in LA.
Luka Dončić is in Slovenia and will be for the whole offseason. Cooper Flagg is training in Maine and occasionally Dallas all summer.
See you Monday on @DLLS_Mavs!
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 3, 2026
The fascination surrounding the pair is understandable.
Dončić’s stunning trade to the Lakers sent shockwaves across the league and marked the end of an era in Dallas. The Mavericks acquired Anthony Davis in the deal, but his stint with the franchise was short-lived, as they eventually shipped him to the Washington Wizards.
Just months after the Davis-Dončić swap, the Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft lottery and selected Flagg, immediately positioning the former Duke standout as the organization’s next cornerstone.
The 19-year-old wasted little time validating the hype. Flagg won Rookie of the Year honors after averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, narrowly edging former Duke teammate and close friend Kon Knueppel in the voting.
Given that sequence of events, it’s no surprise fans are eager to see the former Mavericks superstar and his successor together. But for now, they’ll remain on separate sides of the Atlantic.
While Flagg continues training in Maine and periodically returns to Dallas, Dončić is spending his offseason in Slovenia. The Lakers standout is also scheduled to host his teammates there for a four-day minicamp as he begins preparing for his second full season as the face of the franchise.
With LeBron James leaving Los Angeles for the Philadelphia 76ers this summer, the Lakers officially became Dončić’s team.
Flagg, meanwhile, is beginning a similar journey in Dallas. The Mavericks have reshaped not only their roster but also their front office as they fully commit to building around the versatile young forward, hoping he can lead the franchise into its next championship window.
