Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg already looked like a player ahead of schedule as a rookie. Now, after one season in the NBA and a strong preseason showing in China, he sounds like someone who’s ready for a much bigger leap.
The Mavericks split their two preseason games against the Houston Rockets in China, and Flagg, while used sparingly, still put together eye-catching numbers: 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks.
That kind of production is one thing. What makes him especially intriguing is how much more comfortable he says he feels going into year two.
“I felt at points last year that I was going in blind a little bit. Obviously, I hadn't been through a lot of those experiences before.
So I think just having that this year is a big help. Just feeling prepared, feeling ready.
There's a lot less to worry about,” said Flagg in a report from ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
For the rest of the league, that’s the unsettling part. Flagg is only 19, but he already plays with the poise of someone far older.
He’s also taking another step that matters just as much as the box score: speaking up more inside the locker room.
“I'm just finding my voice. Being so young and a little bit inexperienced is tough sometimes, but I think up to this point, I've earned the respect of my teammates, and I've gotten that sense that they really respect me and my opinion,” said the reigning Rookie of the Year.
With Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, Naji Marshall and Dwight Powell around him, Flagg has the kind of veteran support that can sharpen both his game and his confidence. If his rookie year was the introduction, the next one looks like it could be the part where he starts stacking milestones for everybody to notice.
In Other News...
Max Christie Could Become Much More Dangerous In New Mavericks Role
The Mavericks early preseason look has already hinted at some lineup experimentation, and Zaccharie Risachers presence is giving Dallas another option on the wing. If Risacher settles into a starting shooting guard job, Max Christie could be the player nudged into a different role after starting 68 games last season and showing clear growth on both ends of the floor. That kind of shift would be a notable one for a player who earned more trust with improved scoring and defense and now has to adjust to a new fit in a young roster under Dusty May.
For Christie, a move to the bench would not automatically mean a step back. It could actually come with more freedom, more touches, and more responsibility as Dallas continues to prioritize development and see what it has in its younger pieces. The bigger question is how that usage looks in practice, and whether Christie can turn a different role into a more dangerous offensive profile for a Mavericks team still sorting out its long-term rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks May Have Already Found Klay Thompson's Shooting Replacement
Klay Thompsons departure left the Mavericks with a clear need on the perimeter, and Dallas moved quickly to address it by bringing in Tarik Biberovic. After buying out Thompson this offseason, the Mavs watched him land with the Miami Heat, then turned to a shooter who built a strong reputation in Europe and flashed that same touch in preseason games.
Biberovic is expected to fill a similar role as a high-volume threat from deep, giving Dallas another option to stretch defenses and help improve the teams three-point shooting. It is a different path than the one Thompson took, but for a roster still sorting out its spacing, the Mavericks believe they may already have a useful answer in place. [Read more 🡒]
Dwight Powell's Mavericks Role Suddenly Feels Bigger Than Fans Expected
Dwight Powell has been a familiar face in Dallas for a long time, but this preseason has given his presence a different kind of weight. He has been in the Mavericks exhibition lineup and drawn positive comments from coach Dusty May, who pointed to Powells leadership, basketball IQ and fit with the second unit. With his contract now guaranteed, the veteran big man is no longer just trying to keep a spot - he is being viewed as someone who can help steady the group and bring younger players along.
Powells value also goes beyond the routine preseason minutes. May has highlighted what he can offer in the pick-and-roll, an area that often helps define bench units early in the year, and the Mavericks still have two more preseason games to sort out how all of it fits. For a player whose role can sometimes be taken for granted, this stretch has made clear that his continued play could still shape where he stands by the time Dallas finalizes its roster. [Read more 🡒]