Cooper Flagg walked into his first NBA interview with the confidence of someone who’s been preparing for this moment his entire life. The No. 1 overall pick didn’t just talk about adjusting to professional basketball, he talked about embracing a completely new role.
When Jason Kidd mentioned playing him at point guard, most rookies might have hesitated. Flagg’s response? “I’m looking forward to it.”
How Will Playing Point Guard Transform Cooper Flagg’s NBA Impact?
The two-way forward is equipped with all of the physical tools and has the work ethic to become a superstar-caliber player. However, transitioning to point guard represents something bigger than just a position change. Mavs head coach Jason Kidd shared earlier that he would like to play Flagg at point guard.
This move signals Dallas’s commitment to maximizing their franchise cornerstone from day one. Rather than easing him into a traditional forward role, they’re asking him to be the floor general, the decision-maker, the guy who controls the pace and flow of the offense.
In a post by Mike Curtis, a Mavs beat writer for The Dallas Morning News, shared Flagg’s response to playing a position on the floor we haven’t seen much from him yet:
“I’m looking forward to it,” Flagg said. “Coach Scheyer trusted me a lot last year and I handled it a lot. I didn’t bring it up a ton, but in the halfcourt I handled it a lot and set up a lot of different actions. I think it’s something I can do at a high level so I’m excited to just experiment & do some new things,” he added.
Cooper Flagg on Jason Kidd’s hopes to play him at PG next season for the #Mavs:
“I’m looking forward to it. Coach Scheyer trusted me a lot last year & I handled it a lot. I didn’t bring it up a ton, but in the halfcourt I handled it a lot & set up a lot of different actions. I…
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) July 8, 2025
That confidence isn’t misplaced. Playing Flagg at the point guard position can unlock a new dimension for the Mavs that most teams simply aren’t prepared to handle. He’s the ultimate Swiss army knife who can do multiple things on the basketball court. He can dribble, pass, and shoot not only at a high level for a player his size, but he does it exceptionally well for all positions.
What Makes Flagg’s Size Such a Threat at Point Guard?
Standing at 6-foot-9 with a 205-pound frame and a 7-foot wingspan, Flagg presents matchup nightmares that opposing coaches will lose sleep over. When he brings the ball up, teams face an impossible choice. Put a smaller guard on him, and he can punish them in the post or shoot over them. Assign a bigger player to defend him, and he can blow by them with his handle and court vision.
This physical advantage becomes even more pronounced when you consider his college production. At Duke, he showcased his well-rounded game, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals and blocks per game. Those assist numbers hint at the playmaking ability that Kidd wants to unleash at the professional level.
The beauty of this experiment lies in its flexibility. Flagg doesn’t have to be a traditional point guard who stays glued to the perimeter. His size allows him to operate from anywhere on the court, creating mismatches that force defenses to adjust their schemes constantly.
Additionally, Flagg will be set up for success this season as he’s surrounded by elite talent all over the floor. The roster includes Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson, and former Blue Devils teammate Dereck Lively II. Plus, there’s Kyrie Irving waiting to return from his ACL tear injury, giving Flagg a veteran mentor who understands the point guard position at the highest level.
While the Mavs’ newest signing, D’Angelo Russell, is slated to get the bulk of the minutes at the lead guard spot initially, Flagg will also handle some of these duties until Irving’s return. This creates the perfect environment for him to develop his floor general skills without the pressure of being the primary ball-handler from game one.
For now, the No. 1 pick will make his summer league debut when the Mavericks and Lakers tip off the Las Vegas Summer League on Thursday, July 10 at 8 p.m. ET. That’s where we’ll get our first real look at how this bold experiment might unfold when the games actually matter.
