The Dallas Mavericks are heating up at just the right time. Winners of five of their last six games, they’re starting to look like a team that’s finding its rhythm-and not just against the league’s bottom feeders.
This recent stretch includes statement victories over two of the West’s top squads: the Denver Nuggets and the Houston Rockets. That’s not just padding the win column; that’s making noise in a crowded conference.
So, what’s fueling this Mavs surge? It’s not just one thing-it’s a mix of timely returns, breakout performances, and a rookie who’s already rewriting the record books.
Let’s start with the veterans. Anthony Davis is back from injury, and his presence alone shifts the floor balance.
He’s anchoring the defense, cleaning up the glass, and giving Dallas that interior presence they sorely missed. Meanwhile, Naji Marshall has been playing some of the best basketball of his career-quietly, efficiently, and effectively.
He’s not the flashiest name on the roster, but his impact has been undeniable.
Then there’s Ryan Nembhard, who has emerged as a legitimate contributor. His poise and playmaking have added another layer to the Mavericks’ backcourt, giving them depth and stability. But if we’re talking about what’s really turning heads around the league, it starts and ends with Cooper Flagg.
Flagg continues to look less like a rookie and more like a rising star with each passing game. In Friday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets, he dropped 22 points and grabbed 8 rebounds-another strong performance in what’s quickly becoming a standout debut season.
But beyond the box score, Flagg also made history. At just 18 years old, he’s now the only player in NBA history to record multiple games with 20+ points, 5+ assists, and zero turnovers.
He first hit that mark back on November 16 in an overtime win over Portland, and Friday’s performance put him in a class of his own.
That kind of efficiency-especially from a teenager-is rare. And it’s even more impressive when you consider the context.
Flagg’s season averages of 17.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists are solid on their own, but they’re even more impressive when you factor in how the season started. Early on, the Mavericks experimented with Flagg at point guard-a move that didn’t quite click.
Since shifting him back to his natural forward spot, his numbers have jumped, and so has his confidence.
Now, he’s not just contributing-he’s closing. Flagg ranks among the league leaders in both minutes played and points scored in clutch situations, defined as games within five points in the final five minutes.
That’s not just impressive for an 18-year-old. That’s impressive, period.
Sure, some might point to the small sample size of 18-year-olds in the NBA and question how much weight to put on these milestones. But that’s kind of the point.
Flagg is doing things we rarely see because players his age rarely get this kind of opportunity-let alone thrive in it. He could easily be a college freshman right now.
Instead, he’s winning Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors and making a real impact on a playoff-caliber team.
The Mavericks are still a work in progress, but with Davis healthy, Marshall stepping up, Nembhard emerging, and Flagg blossoming into something special, this team suddenly looks a lot more dangerous than it did a few weeks ago. The West is deep, but Dallas is starting to carve out its place-and if Flagg keeps this up, they might have a future superstar on their hands sooner than expected.