Cooper Flagg entered his introductory press conference on Friday, flanked by Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison and head coach Jason Kidd, marking the start of the Flagg era for the franchise
The expectations are sky high for the rookie, with many calling him one of the best prospects of all time. Flagg will be following in the footsteps of Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic in attempting to be the next great Mavs player.
On Friday, he said his focus is on improving, not trying to measure himself against past greats.
“I’m coming in just trying to learn and trying to get better every single day, and I think I can do that to the best of my ability,” Flagg said. “I think expectations and pressures that other people will put on me and our team that will kind of work itself out. I’m just trying to come in and be the best that I can be and just win at the highest level.”
Flagg finds himself in an abnormal position for a No. 1 overall pick; he will join a team with NBA Finals aspirations and a roster filled with talent, a situation he called a boon.
“I think it’s a blessing,” said Flagg. “A lot of people in this position or this situation aren’t granted this opportunity, so I just feel really blessed and grateful for the situation I’ve been given and I’m just looking forward to being a sponge, you know, just getting down here excited to just learn, soak it all in and learn from the guys that are older have been through it all before.”
One of those older guys is Dereck Lively, who, like Flagg, attended Duke. The Maine native was already familiar with Lively and he spoke about his experience with the center to this point in his career.
“Derek came back during last year, when we were, in the preseason, part of everything and just being around, he was present, we were able to talk to him, hang out with him on and off the court,” Flagg said. “So I think it was really cool, you know, just to meet him and kind of build a relationship with him. He’s a really, really cool guy, so I’m just excited to continue to build a relationship with him and be able to share the court with him.”
Kidd, who was the No. 2 pick by the Mavs in the 1994 NBA Draft, talked about how he’ll mold Flagg, saying he wants to put Flagg in new situations and see how he responds.
“I think just from past experiences, being in this seat, being one, but just sitting here listening to him, is it incredible? I mean, we’re talking about an 18-year-old who has all the right answers. He’s talking about working out after this, but you know, when you talk about his gift, he’s a basketball player and he’s a winner,” said Kidd. “I want to put him in at the point guard. I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts. Being able to run the show, being able to play the two, play the three, he’s comfortable playing that, but we want to push and I think he’s going to respond in a positive way,” said Kidd.
The last No. 1 pick for the Mavs was Mark Aguirre in 1981, who attended the press conference. He said Flagg was one-of-one when asked which player he reminded him of.
“He’s individual, I don’t see another player in him he’s the first I saw. He’s just Cooper Flagg,” said Aguirre. “I think he’s going to make his own way and make his own name.”