Rolando Blackman has been riding high since the NBA Draft Lottery concluded on May 12. At the event, Blackman was the lucky charm for the Dallas Mavericks in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes. The Mavs legend was the team’s representative during the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery.
The four-time NBA All-Star appeared on a radio show to discuss the draft lottery and gave his opinions and comparisons on a former Mavs’ star and a potential future one.
Blackman Compares Cooper Flagg & Luka Dončić
The former Maverick appeared on Dallas’ 105.3 The Fan and discussed the differences between Luka Dončić and potential No. 1 pick Flagg. His thoughts on the Slovenian star were clear: “One-on-one, he cannot be guarded. Period. That’s all there is to say.” He also called the newest Lakers point guard a “scoring phenom.”
Blackman’s evaluation of Dončić is spot on. He has generational playmaking ability and is a proven 30+ point scorer with elite shot creation, footwork, and ability to score at all three levels. He can take over games offensively and pick defenses apart in isolation and pick-and-roll situations.
He then shared his thoughts on the Duke star, referring to Flagg as a “Swiss Army knife.” Blackman raved about the potential top pick, saying, “He’s gonna be able to play offense, defense, he’s gonna be able to put the ball in the hole and guard the other [team’s] best offensive player.”
Rolando Blackman, my hero, discussed the differences between Luka and Flagg on 105.3 the Fan
On Luka: “One on one, he can not be guarded. Period. That’s all there is to say.”
On Flagg: “This guy’s a Swiss Army knife.” Went on to compare him to former Jazz F Andrei Kirilenko
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— Mavs Film Room 🐴🎥 (@MavsFilmRoom)
He also compared Flagg’s game to former Utah Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko. The two share similar frames and defensive versatility, both capable of guarding multiple positions across the floor. Offensively, their instincts—being able to read and react quickly—are just as dynamic as their other standout traits.
Dončić’s poor defensive skills have been on the news the past few weeks after the Lakers were bounced out of the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. While he’s improved, defense remains his weaker area. He’s smart with positioning but lacks elite lateral quickness or defensive consistency.
But still, many analysts are certainly trending downward on the five-time All-NBA member’s stock after multiple poor performances. The defensive end is where Flagg plants his flag. He already is an outright better defender than Dončić with a ton of room to grow professionally and physically.
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While Dončić is a current MVP-caliber force, Flagg’s well-rounded game, elite defensive ceiling, and physical tools make him a potential future two-way superstar. If Flagg continues to develop his offensive creation and scoring, this debate could shift dramatically in the near future, though one college head coach remains skeptical about his superstar potential.
And with Flagg most likely set to step foot in the house that the Lakers star once built in Dallas, it seems we’re just at the tip of the iceberg when comparing these two NBA stars.
