Bill Simmons didn’t waste any time getting to the point on Cooper Flagg.
After watching the Dallas Mavericks through their first four games, Simmons came away convinced the rookie is already changing the shape of the conversation around the team’s season outlook. Dallas was projected for another rough year, with its over-under set at 33.5 entering the 2026-27 season, but Simmons thinks Flagg may be forcing a much bigger rethink.
“Cooper Flagg looks absolutely spectacular. Absolutely spectacular.
This is holy s*** level. And my overreaction would be, ‘I’m not sure it’s possible for him to be on an under .500 team anymore’.”
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, arrived in a difficult spot with the post-Luka Doncic Mavericks. The franchise has already cut down some of the noise around it by firing Nico Harrison and trading Anthony Davis, and the early results on the floor have given a little more life to the picture.
Dallas is 2-1 in the games Flagg has started, and the only game he missed came against the San Antonio Spurs, when a mild shoulder strain kept him out of a 122-106 loss. Last season, the Mavericks stumbled to a 26-56 finish.
Through three appearances this season, Flagg is averaging 25.0 points. He opened with a 32-point outing in the loss to the still unbeaten Rockets, then followed with 14 points, five rebounds and six assists against the Pacers before turning in a 29-point, six-rebound, 11-assist performance at Miami.
Date Opponent MIN PTS REB AST FG (M-A)
Oct 22, 2026 @ Houston Rockets 33 32 5 2 10-17
Oct 24, 2026 @ Indiana Pacers 17 14 5 6 4-6
Oct 25, 2026 vs. San Antonio Spurs 0 0 0 0 0-0
Oct 26, 2026 @ Miami Heat 40 29 6 11 12-23
Simmons also argued that Flagg has already climbed into rare territory for a player this young. In his view, the Mavericks forward is already among the league’s best.
“He’s a top 15 to 20 guy in the league now. He does whatever he wants offensively. He can go full speed left or full speed right already, get to the rim and finish, at age 19, which basically LeBron is the only other guy I’ve ever seen be able to do that at that age.
“He’s unstoppable, he’s competitive, he does everything you’d want, and it feels like he went up a level from last year.”
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