Dirk Nowitzki praised Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg at his charity event, calling him “the real deal” and saying “the hype is real.”
Dirk Nowitzki, the Dallas Mavericks legend and Hall of Famer, had high praise for rookie Cooper Flagg during his charity fundraiser event in Dallas.
Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg
Position: PF, SF
Age: 18
Height: 206 cm
Weight: 93 kg
Birth place: United States of America
Nowitzki, who spent 21 seasons with the Mavs, hosted the fundraiser to support children facing illness, poverty, abuse, and neglect.
Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, attended the event as a guest of honor. While he did not take the tennis court, the 18-year-old forward showed support for Nowitzki’s cause.
When asked about Flagg, Nowitzki left no doubt about his belief in the young star.
“The hype is real, for sure,” Nowitzki said, per The Athletic. “I’m not the biggest college sports watcher in general, whether that’s basketball or any sport, but of course I checked out Cooper. Sky is the limit, honestly.”
“What I saw, just the way he reads the game already at that age. (He’s) barely 18, athletic, (has) skills. I heard his work ethic is through the roof. Everything I saw and heard is he’s the real deal.”
Flagg’s all-around game made him one of the most highly regarded prospects in years. At Duke, he led the team in points, rebounds, assists, and steals, while ranking second in blocks behind fellow lottery pick Khaman Maluach.
“Hopefully, Mavs fans will have (Flagg) for a long, long time,” Nowitzki added
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