Published: 19:44 GMT, 1 February 2026 | Updated: 19:48 GMT, 1 February 2026
[Dallas Mavericks](/sport/dallas-mavericks/index.html) head coach Jason Kidd addressed media criticism regarding his rotation and the recent usage of rookie Cooper Flagg during a post-game conference.
The Mavericks coach was asked about his tactical decisions regarding the guard and the choice to utilize Flagg as a primary ball-handler early on during the season.
Kidd, a Hall of Fame point guard, responded to the line of questioning by citing his personal experience in the league as both a championship player and a coach.
As per [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/mavericks-jason-kidd-cooper-flagg-question/), Kidd said: 'I don't give a f\*\*\* about the criticism. Criticism? That's your opinion. You guys write that bulls\*\*\*. I've done this. I've played this game.
'I've played it at a very high level. I know what the f\*\*\* I'm doing. But I don't give a f\*\*\* what you guys write. Because you guys have never played the game.
'And so I build players. So I know what the f\*\*\* I'm doing. So to take criticism, it only makes me better. Because if I wasn't doing it right you guys wouldn't be poking holes in what I've done.'
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd addressed criticism regarding his usage of Cooper Flagg
Flagg was utilized as a primary ball-handler earlier on during the season
The outburst followed a specific inquiry into the team's struggles despite Cooper Flagg recently delivering one of the greatest rookie performances in history.
Flagg recorded a historic 49-point explosion on 20 of 29 shooting during a 123-121 loss to the Charlotte Hornets this past Thursday evening.
This scoring output set a new NBA record for the most points ever scored by a teenager in a single game, surpassing several future Hall of Fame members.
The Duke product joins LeBron James and Anthony Edwards as the only teenagers in league history to record multiple 40-point games during their debut seasons.
Flagg also tallied 34 points and 12 rebounds in a recent 111-107 loss to the Houston Rockets, though the team remains winless over their last four contests.
Before this scoring surge, Kidd had experimented with Flagg as a primary ball-handler, a move that drew significant external criticism from local and national media.
Flagg recorded a historic 49-point night during a 123-121 loss to the Hornets on Thursday
In his first seven games as a point guard, Flagg averaged 13.6 points and 2.1 turnovers while shooting just 38.8 percent from the field during that specific stretch.
Flagg admitted that the responsibility of the point guard role brought significant pressure and noted that he may not have been ready to handle it immediately.
The rookie's overall season averages remain impressive, with the forward posting 19.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game on 48.4 percent shooting.
The Mavericks currently look to snap their four-game losing streak as they prepare for a Tuesday matchup against the Boston Celtics on the road.