Cooper Flagg Is A Product Of The Mavs That Came Before Him
His game contains some of the best elements from iconic Mavs players
With less than one week until the 2025 NBA Draft, “Flagg Day” is quickly approaching.
In terms of talent, Cooper Flagg is the complete package. Yet, in terms of his NBA development, he’s somewhat of a blank canvas. Born on December 21, 2006, if he was born just 11 days later, he would be too young for the 2025 NBA Draft. The timing could not have been more opportune for the Dallas Mavericks to win the #1 pick. He is unlike anything they have ever seen before.
Flagg’s calling card is his length and defense and his 7’ 0” wingspan evokes the likes of Josh Howard and P.J. Washington’s 7’ 2” wingspan. But what sets him apart is his explosive athleticism. His ability to explode from the weak side to block shots and protect the rim is reminiscent of 7’ 0” Mavs legend Tyson Chandler, or even his future teammate Anthony Davis. There are still questions about his ability to be a true defensive stopper, but it’s clear that put together, the Mavs have never had a wing defender as well-rounded as he is. Like Shawn Marion, he is capable of being an on-ball defender for multiple positions, making him almost impossible to scheme around on defense. Putting him in actions alone won’t work, because he can switch seamlessly or use his length to blow up screens and handoffs.
What he has that Marion didn’t is a more versatile offensive game. His ability to get to the rim with reckless abandon brings back memories of a young Matrix. Even his affinity to cut off ball and finish lobs is something we’ve really only seen Marion do at the wing position. His inclination to get to his spot for mid-range jumpers could remind you of the offensive games of Howard or Caron Butler, but unlike those Mavs wings, Flagg is a true three-level scorer. He’s still a developing 3-point shooter, but like Chandler Parsons, he possesses a fundamentally sound jump shot, and the 41% he shot from distance in college is promising for his offensive game in the NBA. He still has to prove he can be the “offensive engine” that so often defines modern-day NBA superstars, but if he does, watch out, league.
Even compared to Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Dončić, the other generational talents in Mavs history, it’s clear he’s going to chart his own path. Dirk used his rare combination of size, skill, and shooting to overpower opposing defenders. Flagg is not a 7-footer, nor is he a sniper, but his ability to back down defenders in the high post and convert tough jumpers with a soft touch is why Shaquille O’Neal’s “Baby Dirk”, comparison may not be that crazy. And where Nowitzki sometimes struggled— defending in space, Flagg is more than capable.
Cooper is not Luka, let’s be clear. Luka, as Rolando Blackman rightly summarized on the DLLS Mavs Podcast, is an “offensive savant”. For Luka, there was no shot too difficult, no pass too risky, and no defensive coverage too aggressive. Even then, Flagg possesses elite basketball IQ, a defining trait of Dončić, and one essential to being a franchise player. His ability to create offense in the pick-and-roll is a skill the Mavs have lacked since Dončić’s departure. As we saw with Luka, the ability for bigger players to bring the ball up the floor and handle in the half court creates major advantages for a team, and Cooper can do that.
His intense competitive fire reminds you of both Mavs franchise legends. His IQ and poise is reminiscent of Jason Kidd, someone who can be a connector, and even a conductor on the floor. That’s what makes it so exciting that Kidd is likely not headed to New York and will be Cooper’s rookie year coach.
Cooper Flagg has a little bit of many iconic Mavericks players over the years. At the same time, he can’t be put into a mold. He is one of one. And it’s up to the Mavericks to let him grow into his own.