Cooper Flagg has been nothing short of sensational for the Dallas Mavericks in his early NBA career despite the team sitting outside the playoff picture with a sorry 11-17 record.
Questions have begun to be raised about whether Flagg should continue to develop his lofty potential with the Mavs, but he was quick to shut down any talk of him going elsewhere.
Cooper Flagg’s Loyalty to the Dallas Mavericks
Following the Mavs’ tightly contested overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons, Flagg said: ‘Loyalty has always been a big thing for me, and I think it’s just being where my feet are.’
The teenage sensation doubled down on his loyalty claim, expressing, ‘I’ve loved every minute of being here…I feel like I’m living the dream…Everyone here in Dallas has been so amazing.’
‘I’d be foolish not to want to be here for as long as I can, and whatever happens, happens. I’m just trying to enjoy life one day at a time and take what’s given to me and feel really blessed.’
With Anthony Davis missing a large chunk of games due to injury and Kyrie Irving still sidelined from ACL surgery, Flagg has been the go-to guy for the Mavs, and some of his performances have been incredibly special.
On Dec. 15, Flagg scored the most points by an 18-year-old in NBA history, scoring 42 points and topping the previous record of 37 set by LeBron James on Dec. 13, 2003.
The teenage sensation has recorded at least 20 points in 11 games this season, including a 35-point outburst against the Los Angeles Clippers at the end of November.
The 2025 No. 1 pick has averaged 18.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists this season and is shooting an incredibly efficient 48.2% from the field. It’s no surprise that Flagg has doubled down on his loyalty to the franchise based on his performances to date and the veteran leadership that can help him go to the next level.
The Veterans to Piece His Game Together
The Mavs have Davis, who can help Flagg develop defensively; Klay Thompson, who can help with his shooting; Irving, who can help build his dribbling package; and coach Jason Kidd, who is one of the most elite playmakers in NBA history.
The Mavericks have shown the trust they have put into Flagg in the early part of his NBA tenure, and now they are reaping their rewards with Flagg expressing his desire to stay at the franchise for years to come.
