Dallas Mavericks, Cooper Flagg
Dallas Mavericks, Cooper Flagg | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On Wednesday morning, ESPN revealed its top 50-11 players in the NBA. This list has plenty to talk about, including the all-but-confirmed Top 10 names, but the most exciting part for Dallas Mavericks fans should be that Cooper Flagg landed at 23 after just one season in the league, and you can bet he's not stopping there.
2026-27 should be an even bigger breakout year for Cooper Flagg
Flagg enters the 2026-27 season looking to build on a strong finish to his first season. He had a slow start after being forced to play out of position early, but bounced back to secure Rookie of the Year after a competitive race with Kon Knueppel.
Flagg put up 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the field. He was the entire package, showcasing his elite defense and strong ambidextrous finishing around the basket. Coop laid the foundation for another great season, and the improved situation around him should help him be even more dominant.
With the team hopefully healthy and looking to get back to winning ways, Flagg’s outlook for the season is spectacular. Kyrie Irving returns to the Mavericks lineup after missing all of the 2025-26 season with an ACL tear that has kept him off the court since March 3, 2025. Irving rejoins the team as the most talented co-star Flagg has had at any level in his career, and their partnership will truly get the most out of both players.
Flagg is poised for an All-NBA season
Irving’s return could be the perfect catalyst for an All-NBA season from the sophomore forward. Cooper Flagg’s No. 23 spot on the list shows he's already earning some major respect for his ability, but he could prove even those high expectations are too low.
An All-NBA caliber season could rocket Flagg into the league's upper echelon. Flagg could establish himself as a Top-15 player in the league before he even turns 21. Flagg would be just the 4th at his age to achieve All-NBA status, following in the footsteps of greats such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and, of course, Luka Dončić.
What an All-NBA season from Flagg would do for the Mavericks
Having one of the league's premier players comes with some pretty obvious perks and should be exciting enough to get fans in seats. Even better, an All-NBA season from Flagg and a return to pre-injury form from the 34-year-old Irving could be enough to propel the Mavericks into the playoffs.
The team is already really exciting, and the future looks brighter than ever with Flagg leading the team. If everything clicks early, who knows? Maybe the Mavericks will find themselves in contention for a playoff spot, sporting a pair of a first-time and a 10-time All-Star at the break.
Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations