As 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg prepares for his rookie season with the star-studded Dallas Mavericks, franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki offers him insightful advice on handling the spotlight.
Flagg, who improbably landed in Dallas despite the team’s slim 1.8% odds of winning this year’s draft lottery, will begin Year 1 alongside superstar big man Anthony Davis. Midway through the season, star guard Kyrie Irving, who is recovering from a torn left ACL, should enter the fold, possibly giving the Mavericks a Big 3.
Flagg, a versatile 6-foot-9 forward prospect, is expected to receive ample opportunities on the wing, with increased ball-handling duties in Irving’s absence. Nowitzki foresees the 2025 Naismith College Player of the Year receiving invaluable wisdom on the fly from Dallas’ veterans on how to achieve sustained success.
How Does Dirk Nowitzki Think Cooper Flagg Can Benefit from Dallas’ Roster?
In an interview with The Dallas Morning News published on Tuesday, Nowitzki revealed that his and Flagg’s “paths have never crossed” in person despite them exchanging post-draft pleasantries.
After expressing a willingness to offer Flagg guidance if needed, Nowitzki was asked “what advice” he has for the rookie, given his unique situation. The interviewer noted that the 18-year-old is “joining a team of future Hall of Famers, but one day he’s going to take the reins of the franchise.”
Nowitzki, widely regarded as the greatest Maverick of all time, stressed the importance of Flagg easing himself into a featured role, citing his early-career experiences.
“It was hard for me. My personality wasn’t, ‘Hey, look at me. I’m the big speech guy. Follow me now.’ I had to grow into it. Learn through some mistakes,” Nowitzki began. “I’m not quite sure I can help him with advice. The only thing is to keep your eyes and ears open. Keep learning from your veterans.
“He’s got some incredible players on the team now with Kyrie, obviously Klay [Thompson]. AD’s been around forever. There’s so much knowledge there that he can tap into and learn from.”
The 14-time All-Star then encouraged Flagg to hone in on the behind-the-scenes details that help his high-profile teammates flourish.
“Ask questions. How are their pregame routines? What do they eat? How do they prepare for events? What do they do with appearances? How do they interact with the media?” Nowitzki said. “That was key for me at the beginning, watching Michael Finley, who was a true pro. Steve Nash, learning from them.”
According to Nowitzki, mastering the little things will help Flagg eventually blossom into a genuine leader and franchise player.
“I think that’ll be my advice. Learn as much as you can. Soak it all up, and eventually use it and find your own routine. Find your own way of leading,” Nowitzki advised.
“I don’t think there’s just one way to do it. I think a team can see through some stuff if they think, ‘This is not him,’ or ‘This is fake.’ You want to be as natural as possible and be yourself and find your own way of leading. … There will be some tough times. It’s not an easy transition. It’s the best league in the world. Work through the kinks and go from there.”
Though Dallas missed the playoffs last season, finishing 10th in the Western Conference (39-43), expectations are growing for a return to relevance in the 2025-26 campaign. Fortunately for Flagg, he will have multiple proven NBA champions (Davis, Irving, and Thompson) to lean on for guidance from Day 1.
