DALLAS _ Before facing the Mavericks, Kings coach Dave Joerger made a declaration that could either irk Dallas fans expecting Luka Doncic will earn Rookie of the Year honors or appease Sacramento followers interested in Marvin Bagley III's ascent.
"I've got the rookie of the year on my roster," Joerger said, referring to Bagley. "Just try to get him better every single day.
When asked to elaborate on if he meant Bagley, the 2018 No. 2 overall pick who often doesn't start, should earn the award over front-runners in Doncic and Atlanta Hawks rookie Trae Young or if he meant Bagley was the best newcomer in Sacramento's lineup, Joerger wasn't clear.
But Doncic made sure it was Tuesday on American Airlines Center court in the Mavericks' 125-121 loss.
Doncic recorded his seventh triple-double this season, and second in as many games, with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in 36 minutes.
That tied him with Magic Johnson for third-most triple-doubles by a rookie and most for a player under 21 years old. Doncic has 11 months before his 21st birthday to surpass Johnson for the latter record.
Bagley, who played 24 minutes as a reserve, finished with 14 points, two rebounds and two assists.
That Doncic has shined en route to posting first-year performances rivaling NBA stars' rookie seasons and earning all four Western Conference Rookie of the Month recognitions since the season began isn't a knock on the rest of the 2018 class.
The top 5 in the group _ Phoenix's DeAndre Ayton (No. 1), Bagley (No. 2), Doncic (No. 3), Memphis' Jaren Jackson (No. 4) and Young (No. 5) _ has emerged as one of the most immediately productive in recent history.
But Doncic's season averages and highlights often linger above the rest.
The 20-year-old entered Tuesday averaging 21 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 68 games, all starts. Bagley has posted 14.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1 block averages in 54 games, starting two.
"You try to give him different looks," Joerger said before the game of defending Doncic, knowing well after holding the Slovenian to 13 points in Sacramento's 116-100 win over the Mavericks last Thursday.
"Try to stay in front of him as much as possible. If he gets to your body in the paint, with his size, he's able to Euro step and draw fouls, so you have to try to keep him outside the paint if you can.
"It's easier said than done."
The last sentiment proved true Tuesday.
Harrison Barnes, playing in American Airlines Center for the first time since Feb. 6, when the Mavericks worked a trade mid-game to send him to Sacramento, had early success defending Doncic, who sat for a while after two first-quarter fouls.
Perhaps sharing the court and locker room with Doncic for three months is the best way to gain insight on guarding the 6-foot-7 ballhandler.
Doncic didn't let the break stifle his rhythm.
After the Mavericks listed him questionable with left knee soreness and coach Rick Carlisle said before the game that Doncic "has been a little banged up," Doncic shot 9 of 20 from the field despite missing all nine 3-point attempts. He went 10 of 11 at the foul line.
Doncic prevailing in this clash of top-3 rookies doesn't guarantee the Kings made a mistake in not drafting him. Carlisle said so last week.
Because the Kings drafted De'Aaron Fox at No. 5 in 2017, they already had a point guard. Bagley at power forward likely offered better contrast.
"I can see why then went for him as a one-two punch with Fox for the future," Carlisle said. "An inside guy and an outside guy. Two dynamic guys that can potentially be dominant at their position and play well off one-another."
Meanwhile, Doncic's arrival, and his development as a primary ball-handler, expedited the Mavericks' trade of point guard Dennis Smith Jr. to the New York Knicks in January.
While that deal might've hampered the Mavericks' outlook for the remainder of this year, Doncic's quick maturation signaled a possible postseason award is likely just the start of his rise to stardom in Dallas.
