Cooper Flagg: Blessed by the Opportunity in Dallas
Cooper Flagg, the recent number one draft pick, describes his arrival at the Dallas Mavericks as a “blessing.” Unlike other rookies in his position, Flagg joins a competitive team with experienced veterans, including future Hall of Famers.Flagg, at just 18 years old, will share the court with figures of the stature of Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson, who have a total of 24 All-Star Game appearances and six NBA championships. The Mavericks, after a season with a 39-43 record, managed to obtain the first draft pick with only a 1.8% chance. Flagg, after leading Duke to the Final Four in his only college season, will begin his NBA career on a team with immediate aspirations, although Irving could miss the first half of the season due to an injury. The Mavs’ general manager, Nico Harrison, pointed out that the team is focused on winning now, and Flagg is a key piece for the franchise’s future. With a height of 6 feet 8 inches and a weight of 220 pounds, Flagg is considered one of the most versatile prospects in recent memory. He led Duke in points (19.2 per game), rebounds (7.5), assists (4.2), steals (1.4), and blocks (1.4), earning him multiple Player of the Year awards. The coach Jason Kidd sees in Flagg a complete basketball player and a winner. Kidd has a specific position in mind for Flagg: the point guard position, at least for the Las Vegas Summer League, which begins on July 10 with the Mavericks facing the Los Angeles Lakers. Kidd applied a similar approach with Giannis Antetokounmpo, which fueled his rise to the NBA elite. Kidd seeks for Flagg to feel comfortable in different roles so that he can develop his potential. Flagg mentioned that his playmaking and ball-handling were the areas where he progressed the most at Duke. Coach Jon Scheyer trusted him from the start, allowing him to learn from his mistakes and improve his efficiency. The arrival of Flagg has revitalized Mavericks fans, who were shocked by Luka Doncic’s trade. Flagg takes on the responsibility of leading the franchise, although his main focus is to learn and improve every day.“Many people in this position or situation do not have this opportunity, so I feel blessed and grateful for the situation I have been given,” commented Flagg during his introductory press conference at the Mavericks’ training facilities.
Cooper Flagg
