Dallas Mavericks first overall pick Cooper Flagg has found his footing after a rough start to his NBA career. While Flagg has emerged as a future franchise player, the Mavericks are enduring a difficult season. Through it all, Flagg recently revealed a constant source of support: his teammate and nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving.
Cooper Flagg Credits Mavericks Teammate Kyrie Irving For Supporting Him
Flagg recently provided insight into his bond with Irving during an appearance on “NBA Today.” Flagg said, “He stepped in as, like, a great vet for me and was there giving me guidance, because there were definitely times where I was shaken up. I’d never lost that much in my life. But just to hear him say that and tell me that I’m doing everything I need to be doing and just to stay with it and stay positive, it definitely helped me out a lot.”
Irving is a major reference point for Flagg, having dealt with the same pressure Flagg now faces. Irving was a No. 1 pick just like Flagg and faced the challenge of replacing a franchise icon in LeBron James, similar to Flagg stepping into Luka Dončić’s role. Irving likely became even more of a mentor for Flagg, as Flagg began his NBA career playing Irving’s position at point guard.
Cooper Flagg joined @malika_andrews on @espn’s NBA Today to discuss how Kyrie Irving helped him navigate early struggles in his career:
“He stepped in as like a great vet for me and was there giving me guidance because there were definitely times where I was shaken up. I’d… pic.twitter.com/oGvO0rVk2P
— Ron Harrod Jr. (@RonKnowsSports) March 16, 2026
It quickly became apparent that Flagg was playing out of position and struggled to make reads against NBA defenses. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd had said he wanted to see how Flagg would respond to playing point guard, a move likely influenced by a lack of options, with Dončić gone and Irving sidelined for the season while rehabbing a torn left ACL.
However, Flagg began to flourish once he moved back to his natural spot on the wing. He now averages 20.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game.
Total team effort 🤝@ATT // #MFFL pic.twitter.com/3Edb5CPM8O
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) March 16, 2026
Kidd’s decision to move Flagg back to the wing has kept him in the Rookie of the Year race. Collectively, the Mavericks have endured multiple disappointments en route to their 23-45 record. The team’s recent eight-game losing streak was one example.
The Dončić-for-Anthony Davis swap quickly became a disaster, and Davis is now a member of the Washington Wizards. The addition of former All-Star D’Angelo Russell was also a misstep. Klay Thompson is having the worst season of his career, and veteran P.J. Washington has regressed.
There was speculation that the Mavericks might trade Irving once he is healthy, but the organization quickly shut down those reports. Irving’s thriving relationship with Flagg is another sign he remains committed to the team. The Mavericks are just two seasons removed from winning the Western Conference, and they could return to relevance next season if Irving regains his All-Star form and Flagg continues his ascent.
