Oct 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) drives around Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) in the second half of a game at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Oct 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) drives around Charlotte Hornets center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) in the second half of a game at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Key Points
Cooper Flagg is one of the most exciting rookies in recent history. Before he even played college basketball at Duke University, Flagg was already getting plaudits for his highlights and statistics in high school.
In his freshman season at Duke, Flagg proved he deserved all the hype because he was a standout for the Blue Devils. That year in college helped him boost his draft stock even more, as he was the consensus number one pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg bringing up the ball up the court for the team in preseason.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg bringing up the ball up the court for the team in preseason.
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, the Mavericks have high expectations. With Anthony Davis healthy, they have a superstar to build their system around. Aside from him, they also have four-time champion Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving, who will return sometime during the season.
Despite the team’s quality, Flagg is the most exciting player on the Mavericks roster. Head coach Jason Kidd believes in his rookie, which is a good sign moving forward.
View post: Jason Kidd Reacts to Cooper Flagg Development Before SeasonDallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) during preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) during preseason game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
As the number one overall pick, Flagg has cemented himself as the prospect that will get the most hype. However, he is already proving in the preseason that he deserves all the excitement for him.
Flagg is a multifaceted player, known primarily as a premier defender on the perimeter and in the paint. However, he has also become a top-tier offensive player, thanks to his blend of athleticism, natural scoring instincts, and skills.
Kidd once spoke about Flagg’s ability to play as a lead ball-handler, which is a huge strength amongst modern stars. With those strengths, Flagg has received considerable hype from the NBA media, including Kendrick Perkins and Brian Windhorst on ESPN.
“I said it on Draft Night, he is the white version of LeBron James. When you talk about his IQ for the game, he has that. When you talk about his ability to create, defend do all those things, Cooper Flagg has that package,” Perkins said on NBA Today.
“You know what? He’s better with the ball than LeBron (James) was in his first year in the league. Now, LeBron was a way more talented offensive player, but LeBron played point guard as a rookie, and it was a disaster,” Windhorst said on the same NBA Today segment.
Flagg Can Prove The Media Right in the 2025-26 Season
Now that the regular season is starting soon, Flagg can continue being the standout player for the Mavericks. He is the odds-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year, and he can do it while playing for a Playoff team.
This rookie class is impressive because players like Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper can step up and prove themselves. It will be challenging for the rookies, but Flagg can cement his status as the top dog of this class.
Kidd is the right coach for Flagg because he knows what to do to motivate a top player. Moving forward, it will be up to Flagg to live up to expectations and prove that he deserves all the hype that has been generated about him.
View post: Cooper Flagg Admits He Enjoyed His Preseason Debut for DallasCooper Flagg enjoying himself on the bench during a preseason game against the OKC Thunder.
Cooper Flagg enjoying himself on the bench during a preseason game against the OKC Thunder.