The Dallas Mavericks found their cornerstone in Cooper Flagg, and his first season did plenty to feed the hype. Taken first overall in last year’s draft, Flagg quickly became the centerpiece in Dallas, then backed it up by winning a tightly contested Rookie of the Year race while leading the Mavericks in points, rebounds, assists, and steals.
That kind of debut naturally invites big-picture comparisons, and former Mavericks coach Jason Kidd went straight to the biggest one of all. When asked what level Flagg could reach, Kidd pointed to LeBron James and said the young forward is tracking in that direction.
"Well, I think he's on pace, when you talk about LeBron, and what he did as a young player," Kidd answered when asked about what level Flagg could reach. "Cooper's ability, he's one that loves to win, likes to work, is not afraid of the moment.
You saw at Duke, taking a game-winning shot and missing, he's not afraid of the moment. So, I would say he's on pace, that's his comp.
Now, can he stay healthy, like LeBron? And then, all greats are judged with championships...
That's the one stat that will stand out. Hopefully, Cooper can achieve that."
Kidd’s handling of Flagg drew plenty of heat early in the season, especially when he put him at point guard. Dallas struggled during that stretch, and with Kyrie Irving missing the year, Kidd chose to let Flagg grow instead of leaning on a veteran like D'Angelo Russell.
As the season went on, Flagg got more comfortable with the ball in his hands. Even so, the source material makes clear he is not expected to be the Mavericks’ primary initiator going forward. Kidd had long viewed him more as a Grant Hill-type player, and that’s how he was used.
Kidd’s run in Dallas ended after the season, with Masai Ujiri hired as team president and deciding the organization needed a clean slate. Former Michigan coach Dusty May has since taken over as head coach.
The LeBron comparison is a massive bar to clear - maybe too massive. James has put together what is arguably the greatest career in basketball history. Still, Flagg’s rookie season was strong enough that he actually edged past James’ rookie production.
Now the next step matters. Flagg’s second season should offer a clearer picture of what he can become.
James’ second year with the Cleveland Cavaliers turned him into a first-time All-Star, as he averaged 27.2 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 7.2 APG while helping Cleveland win 42 games. The Cavaliers still missed the playoffs because of a tie with the New Jersey Nets for the eighth seed.
If Flagg can push Dallas back to 40 wins this season, that would mark a 14-win jump and place him in some special air.
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Kyrie Irving Suddenly Faces Massive Stakes In His Mavericks Return
Kyrie Irvings return to the Mavericks is shaping up as one of the more closely watched storylines around the team entering the season, not just because of what he can still do on the floor, but because of what his next stretch of basketball could mean for Dallas bigger picture. Irving has not played since March 2025 after his ACL injury, and the Mavericks are reportedly taking a patient approach as they assess both his health and his fit once he is back in action.
There is also a financial layer here that makes every step matter, with Irving attached to a significant contract and a player option for the 2027-28 season. Dallas wants to see whether he can work his way back to a level close to his All-Star peak, because a strong return would give the front office more flexibility down the line, while a slow or uneven one leaves the team with a far different set of decisions as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Fans May Not Like Morez Johnson Jr.'s Rookie Outlook
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The early outlook, though, suggests patience may be part of the plan. Bleacher Reports Zach Buckley expects Johnson to have a lighter role than most top-10 picks, a reminder that Dallas already has several frontcourt and wing pieces competing for time and development priorities to balance. Johnsons Summer League stint also did not run as long as the Mavericks would have liked, which only adds to the sense that his rookie season may be more about managing expectations than immediate production. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Kidds Viral Mavs Comment Sounds Worse Than It Was
Jason Kidds name still carries a lot of weight in Dallas, especially when the conversation turns to the 2011 championship run and the franchises only title. So when a recent interview clip started making the rounds, his comment about the Mavericks getting lucky against LeBron James and the Miami Heat was bound to land with a little extra force, even if it came from the same dry, self-aware humor that has always been part of Kidds public persona.
The reaction was predictable enough, with some fans bristling at anything that might sound like a slight on that title team. But the full context suggests Kidd was speaking lightly, not trying to undercut what the Mavericks accomplished, and the tone of the exchange points more toward a joke than a verdict on a championship that still means plenty in Dallas. [Read more 🡒]