Mavericks rookie makes clear Luka Doncic admission

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Mavericks rookie makes clear Luka Doncic admission

Originally posted on NBA on ClutchPoints
By Paolo Mariano, ClutchPoints | Last updated Jul 7, 2026 2:15 AM ET

After almost two years, it finally feels like the Dallas Mavericks have really moved on from the exit of Luka Doncic.

With Cooper Flagg leading the charge, Kyrie Irving making his much-awaited return, and Dusty May calling the shots, there is a lot to be optimistic about for the Mavericks and their fans.

Dallas also added three rookies to the roster: Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9 pick), Sergio de Larrea (No. 25), and Tobi Lawal (No. 48 pick). While they will need to earn their playing time, they could be the role players the Mavericks badly need.

De Larrea, in particular, could learn a lot from Irving. He, however, admitted that he looked up to Doncic when he was growing up in Spain.

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“He was, for me, my idol in my younger era. For that reason, I was a Mavericks fan a long time ago,” said the 20-year-old guard in a video posted by DLLS Mavs’ Kevin Gray Jr.

Mavericks rookie Sergio De Larrea has long been a Mavs fan.

His inspiration? Luka Dončić

De Larrea after practice today on Dončić:

“He was for me, like, my idol in my younger era. For that reason, I was a Maverick fan a long time ago.” #MFFL

(: @dallasmavs) pic.twitter.com/EPC3XTHDJj

— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) July 6, 2026

De Larrea most likely cheered hard for Doncic and Irving when they carried Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024.

But since then, the Mavericks have struggled to duplicate the success, missing the playoffs in back-to-back years. Trading Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers seemed like a curse. It led to a series of unfortunate events until the team got lucky by getting the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, which landed them Flagg.

De Larrea had the chance to play with Doncic when he was drafted by the Lakers. He, however, was swiftly traded to the New York Knicks before being shipped again to the Mavericks in a three-team deal with the Phoenix Suns.

This article first appeared on NBA on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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