MINNEAPOLIS _ Complimentary words can sometimes be taken out of context. Just ask Dave Joerger.
The Kings coach has been the topic of speculation following his statement about Dallas Mavericks rookie Luka Doncic.
On Monday, a day after the Kings' 120-113 victory snapped the Mavericks' 11-game home winning streak, some media outlets, including ESPN, questioned if Joerger's remarks were a shot at the team's front office.
He looked to "squash some of that" negative talk before the Kings took on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"All we were trying to do was say something positive about another team's player. There's no veiled shots at anybody," Joerger said. "De'Aaron (Fox) gushed about him and (Bogdan Bogdanovic) gushed about him and his ability. ...
"It was all out of love and positivity, but people try to turn it into something between (Kings general manager) Vlade (Divac) and I," Joerger said, adding how tight the two are.
Joerger was complimentary of Doncic before Sunday's game in Dallas. The Slovenian forward was selected one pick after the Kings drafted Marvin Bagley III at No. 2 overall.
"Perhaps there was an idea that there was a ceiling on him," Joerger said. "I don't see it, unfortunately for us. But he's great for them and he's great for our league."
Doncic played well in the Mavericks' loss, scoring a game-high-tying 28 points to go with nine assists and six rebounds.
Doncic's name has been said a lot in Sacramento by media and fans. There are some in both groups who hint he might have been a better fit with the Kings than Bagley, who joined the team's long list of big men.
Joerger explained how excited the Kings were about their draft choice.
"When we drafted Marvin at 2, we were high-fiving like crazy," he said. "We got the right guy for us."
