Cooper Flagg didn’t just survive his rookie year in Dallas - he arrived. The Mavericks forward put together a first season that looked more like the start of something huge than a debut, averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks while shooting 46.8 percent from the field. That was enough to earn Rookie of the Year over former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel, and it also made one thing clear: Flagg was far ahead of where most people expected him to be.
What stood out wasn’t only the production. His offense was more polished than advertised, and the finishing concerns that followed him before the draft quickly faded. By the end of the season, he looked like a player Dallas could run through, a two-way force who kept getting better as the year went on.
Now the next jump is on deck, and it could be a big one. Kyrie Irving is back after missing all of last season with an ACL tear, and that alone gives Flagg a very different kind of setup heading into year two. With Dallas’ roster looking completely revamped after missing the NBA Playoffs for the second straight season, Flagg still stands as the franchise cornerstone.
The kind of leap Dallas is hoping for isn’t some fantasy. It’s happened before with elite young stars.
LeBron James and Luka Doncic both won Rookie of the Year, then turned around and made an All-NBA team the following season. Their sophomore numbers show the size of that jump:
LeBron James’ rookie season stats
LeBron James’ sophomore season stats
20.9 points per game
27.2 points per game
5.5 rebounds per game
7.4 rebounds per game
5.9 assists per game
7.2 assists per game
41.7 percent shooting from the field
47.2 percent shooting from the field
Flagg doesn’t need to become those players overnight to follow a similar path, but the ingredients are there. He already looks comfortable with the ball in his hands, he’s a problem defensively, and he thrives in transition. His turnaround jumper also kept coming along, and the way he improved game after game last season gave Dallas a clear reason to believe the work will keep translating.
The biggest swing factor in his sophomore season is the shot. Flagg spent the offseason focused on shooting and shot creation, and those areas could change the shape of his game.
As a rookie, he hit 29.5 percent from three, well below the 38.5 percent he posted from deep at Duke. If he gets to league-average from long range, that would open everything else up.
Defenders would have to respect him more tightly, which would create easier lanes to the rim and more chances to punish overplays. It would also make his mid-range game even more dangerous, especially when he attacks closeouts off the bounce.
That’s where the real ceiling comes in. Flagg already scored 21.0 points per game without being an elite shot creator, and that says plenty about how much room there still is for growth.
He got to the rim, he leaned on that turnaround mid-range jumper, and he still put up big numbers. If he starts manufacturing cleaner looks for himself on a regular basis, the scoring surge could come fast.
And if that happens while Dallas outperforms expectations, Flagg could be looking at more than just a breakout. He could be pushing his way into his first NBA All-Star Game.
In Other News...
Kyrie Irving Just Took On A Role The Mavericks Desperately Need
Kyrie Irving is already leaning into a different kind of responsibility for Dallas, one that goes beyond shot-making and late-game creation. After hosting a player-led minicamp for the Mavericks, he is stepping into the kind of leadership role the organization has been waiting for, especially with a young roster that could use a steady veteran voice as it tries to grow into a playoff contender.
What makes this especially notable is the timing. Irving is expected to be Dallas primary veteran leader on and off the court in the 2026-27 season, and it will be his first full run in that role after injuries and roster circumstances kept that possibility from fully taking shape before. For a team that needs both direction and accountability, his experience may end up mattering as much as anything he does with the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Kyrie Irvings Mavericks Future Still Hangs Over Dallas Entering Camp
The Mavericks have spent the offseason taking stock of the roster under new head coach Dusty May and a fresh voice in the front office, and Kyrie Irving remains one of the central names in every conversation about where the team is headed next. Irving is working back from an ACL injury and, at 34, still carries the kind of gravity that can shape not just the rotation but the bigger direction of the franchise.
For now, Dallas is planning as if Irving will be part of the picture when camp opens, even with the uncertainty that usually follows a season of change. His situation is fluid enough that the team would listen if he wanted a move, and the broader question is how long the current balance holds if the Mavericks stumble early or Irvings view of his future starts to shift. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Roster Crunch Just Made The Klay Thompson Move Harder To Explain
The Mavericks offseason already looked a little unusual after they bought out Klay Thompson and let him land with the Miami Heat, and the roster math around the move has only gotten tighter since then. Dallas is carrying a full roster, which means every addition now comes with a consequence, and that has turned even modest depth decisions into a small puzzle for the front office.
Dwight Powells name is back in the conversation, with Dallas looking at him for training camp as a possible competitor for a spot. The catch is simple: bringing him in would force the Mavericks to clear room by waiving someone else, which is why the Thompson buyout keeps drawing second-guessing. Once a move creates that kind of squeeze, it gets harder to explain why the team chose it in the first place. [Read more 🡒]