Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (left) and guard Kyrie Irving (right) watch the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Dickie's Arena with Dirk Nowitzki in the background
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In talking about the 2026-27 Dallas Mavericks, Hall of Fame forward Dirk Nowitzki is eager to see how Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg will lead the team in the second season of the 2025 first overall pick. Nowitzki can't wait for Mavericks veteran Irving's comeback season. After missing the entire 2025-26 campaign due to an ACL tear, the nine-time All-Star will join forces with Cooper, the NBA's reigning Rookie of the Year.
The Mavericks will be led by a new head coach, Dusty May. Nowitzki is excited to see how they'll approach the upcoming season, he said, per The Stein Line's Marc Stein.
“We'll have to wait and see how they all come together, obviously, with the new coach, with a new system, and a new coach. How is he going to transition? I've heard great things about him; about his leadership, about his work ethic, about how he approaches and talks to the guys. I think he'll be loved by the players,” Nowitzki said. “But it'll be interesting to see. What kind of plays is he running? What kind of system is he establishing — how does he want to play? But the big thing is, obviously, Kyrie coming back after a whole year off.
“I've seen some clips on social media in the last few weeks. He looks great. He looks shifty. He still looks explosive. To see Kyrie with Coop sharing the court will be super, super exciting. He kept some veterans around. He got some new players. You need to have Lively healthy, obviously; that's a big key. But I think they got some nice pieces. If they execute well with Kyrie and Coop on the court, that could be a dangerous combo.”
While Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg will be an intriguing new tandem in the NBA, Dirk Nowitzki understands it will take time for the Mavericks to revert to the title-contending team that reached the NBA Finals in 2024. However, he did make his prediction for how many games Dallas will win this upcoming season.
“If you pressed me now to make a prediction, I would take the over on 30 wins,” Nowitzki added. “But the Western Conference is tough. And the league has gotten tougher. We'll wait and see what happens.”
The Mavs finished 26-36 for the fourth-worst record in the Western Conference standings last season.
What Dirk Nowitzki expects from Mavericks' Cooper Flagg in 2026-27
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) reacts after scoring during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center.
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Looking to build off his rookie season, Mavericks guard Cooper Flagg will set out to prove his first season wasn't a fluke. Ahead of the 2026-27 season, Dirk Nowitzki could return to the Mavericks organization sometime in the near future, he revealed. In the meantime, he believes Flagg will take the next step in his development in his second season by improving on his outside shot.
“I think he's going to raise his shooting percentage from three and from the outside more as he gets more comfortable; he's going to keep stepping into those shots,” Nowitzki. “Sometime during the season last year, he was like in the 20s from three. I think everybody expects that climb every year, and get more comfortable from the outside. He's shown pretty much everything else.
“He's unbelievable in transition; he got good midrange; he can post; he can run pick-and-rolls, which J. Kidd, obviously, put the ball in his hands a lot early in the season. He struggled a little with game management and turnovers, and that improved tremendously as the season went on. So, his decision-making got better and quicker.
Nowitzki says Flagg has already proven he's a two-way player. But he's expected the 2026 Rookie of the Year to elevate his offensive prowess in season 2.
“Man, he's going to an overall talent that can really do it all on both ends of the floor,” Nowitzki added. “The big thing that going to have to come is shooting a little better from outside. And that's going to even open up more of the driving lanes, the drive-and-kicks, and all the passes he can make off the dribble. That's indeed the next progression in him.”
While Nowitzki wouldn't predict Flagg earns his first All-Star selection in 2026-27, it's a feat he wouldn't put past him in only his second season with the Mavericks.