Dallas Mavericks fans are about to get their first real look at what Cooper Flagg can do in Year 2, and ESPN is already buying into a big leap.
With the 2026-27 NBA season less than a month away, ESPN has been rolling out its top 100 players list for the year ahead, and Flagg landed at No. 23. That puts him ahead of Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Evan Mobley, and Deni Avdija, while he sits just behind Jalen Johnson, Jamal Murray, and Devin Booker.
That’s a strong lane for the 19-year-old to be in, especially when the names around him include players who have all been All-Stars recently.
ESPN’s Zach Kram pointed to how uneven Flagg’s rookie year looked before it caught fire late.
"Flagg's rookie season began with a whimper, as he struggled to adjust to the NBA while being thrust into the unfamiliar position of point guard. But it ended with a bang at his rightful position of small forward, as a torrid late-season burst -- including back-to-back games with 51 and 45 points in April -- propelled him to his expected Rookie of the Year honor," ESPN's Zach Kram wrote.
Kram also highlighted just how much runway Flagg still has.
"The former No. 1 pick doesn't even celebrate his 20th birthday until December, yet he's already one of the best two-way wings in the league, with a strong defensive foundation and a budding offensive skill set. Flagg must improve his jump shot (29.5% on 3s last year), but that might be the only real obstacle standing in the way of an All-Star berth."
Flagg’s rookie numbers help explain the buzz. He averaged 21.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 4.5 APG, and led the Mavericks in each category. If he can take another step, especially with his three-point shooting, he could be in the All-Star conversation fast.
He’ll have Kyrie Irving back alongside him this time, which changes the picture some, but it also gives Dallas another high-end piece to work with. ESPN clearly isn’t shying away from the idea that Flagg can rise quickly, either - Irving checked in at 39th, and Anthony Davis came in at 40th.
For a player who is still only 19, that’s a pretty aggressive projection. But after the way Flagg kept improving over the course of his rookie season, it’s not hard to see why ESPN thinks he could crack the top 20 by the end of the year.
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