Cooper Flagg, the teenage phenom who became the youngest overall pick in this year’s NBA draft. There’s a reason he’s made such a quick impact on the Dallas Mavericks during preseason—in more ways than one. Towering at 6-foot-8, Flagg entered the boldest of arenas. He even made the move from his natural position as a forward to start at point guard for the Mavericks during their final two preseason games. Unfortunately, that performance has been overshadowed by his and the team’s shotty start to the regular season, but it remains imperative to take notice.
In his two games at the point, Flagg averaged 12.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. He paired the league-leading talent with established stars Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis. Alongside P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II, they created a multifaceted and high-scoring, positionless lineup. Giving up a size and speed advantage, with Gabe Vincent pouring in 18 points—five 3-pointers—in all of four minutes of action, Flagg didn’t back down. Under all that pressure, he produced a positive contribution to his team’s winning efforts.
Jason Kidd, head coach of the Mavericks, gave high commendations for Flagg’s work in this crucial position. He would not commit on whether Flagg would open the season as the team’s starting point guard.
“But I think he has done an incredible job of handling the situation of running the team. And the other thing that I think is going unnoticed is that his teammates enjoy him running the team,” – Jason Kidd
Kidd understood that Flagg would require training as he stepped into his new role. He noted that Flagg would need to measure who shot when and if the last shot was a good one, something that ability will become keener with increased court experience. Even Flagg admitted to occasional mental lapses in-game, but was clearly steadfast about the idea of honing and perfecting his craft.
Kidd talked up Flagg’s remarkable upside. He added that the team remains in a position to make a late evaluation on their starting point guard situation.
“There’s a lot of good, positive stories here, and so we have some time to make a decision,” – Jason Kidd
As Flagg obviously still has plenty of room to grow in his new role, the Mavericks and others around the league are watching his impressive development unfold. Whether he stays at the position permanently, or moves back to forward as the year starts is still up in the air. Flagg has made a seamless shift into the leadership role, guiding the team. This decision displays his flexibility and deep dedication to the Mavs’ long-term prosperity.
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