Dirk Nowitzki knows a thing or two about growing into greatness. So when the Mavericks legend weighs in on Cooper Flagg’s rookie season, people listen - and his message this week was loud and clear: there’s no panic in Dallas when it comes to Flagg’s 3-point shooting.
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, is already putting together one of the more complete rookie campaigns we’ve seen in recent years. Through 42 games, he’s averaging 18.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 47.7% from the field.
He’s second among all rookies in scoring and one of just two first-year players to notch three 30-point games. But if there’s been one stat that’s drawn some outside concern, it’s his 28.3% shooting from beyond the arc on 3.5 attempts per game.
Nowitzki, though, isn’t buying the worry.
“Nobody here in Dallas is worried about his 3-ball,” he said during an appearance on NBA on Prime Thursday. “That is something that can come.
Quick fun fact: My rookie season, I shot 29% from three, and it ended up being OK. We’re not worried about Cooper’s 3-ball.”
That’s not just reassurance - that’s perspective from a guy who turned a slow shooting start into a Hall of Fame career built on one of the most iconic jumpers in NBA history.
A Rookie Season Defined by Adaptability
While the outside shooting numbers may not jump off the page just yet, Flagg’s rookie year has been anything but underwhelming. What stands out most isn’t the percentages - it’s the poise, the versatility, and how quickly he’s adjusted to the demands of the NBA game.
Dallas didn’t ease him in. Flagg opened the season handling point guard duties, a bold move by the Mavericks to tap into his playmaking instincts and stretch his development curve. But as the season unfolded, the team shifted him back toward his natural frontcourt role - and that’s when things really started to click.
That adjustment has unlocked a different level of rhythm in Flagg’s game. He’s become a steadying force on the floor, leading the Mavericks not just in scoring but also in rebounds, assists, and steals. He’s logging serious minutes, taking on tough defensive matchups, and still managing to put up numbers that have him squarely in the front-runner seat for Rookie of the Year - even with Dallas navigating an up-and-down season.
Nowitzki sees that evolution as a sign of real progress.
“I think he has been a lot better from month to month,” he said. “He’s more comfortable stepping into shots.
It’s not like he’s changed his form - he’s just shooting with more confidence. Since moving back to his normal spot, he’s been in a great rhythm, averaging like 26 and five and almost 50% from the floor.
He’s been shooting at an incredible clip.”
Flagg’s Impact Goes Beyond the Arc
Flagg himself has been open about his outside shot being a work in progress, but it’s clear that his value to the Mavericks extends far beyond one statistical column. At just 19 years old, he’s shouldering a massive role on both ends of the court - and delivering.
He’s already had multiple 30-point games. He’s been tested against elite competition.
He’s running the offense one night and anchoring the defense the next. That kind of workload is rare for a rookie, and even rarer when it’s handled with this level of maturity.
Nowitzki, who spent his own early years in Dallas learning how to lead and grow through the grind, understands that kind of development better than most. For him, it’s all about the long view.
The confidence, the adaptability, the willingness to take on different roles - those are the traits that matter most right now. The 3-point shot?
That’ll come. And when it does, it’ll be just one more weapon in a growing arsenal.
As Dallas continues to shape its future around Flagg, the message from one of the franchise’s all-time greats is simple: the foundation is already there. The rest is just a matter of time.