The Dallas Mavericks are off to a poor 2-6 start. Anthony Davis sat out the last three contests with Achilles tendon soreness, and Kyrie Irving continues his recovery from a torn ACL he suffered last season. Rookie Cooper Flagg spoke on the team’s struggles to start the 2025-26 NBA campaign.
How Does Cooper Flagg View the Maverick’s Season So Far?
After Dallas’ 99-101 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 5, Flagg spoke to the media about the locker room vibes and his goals to shift the team’s direction.
“Guys are obviously trying to stay level-headed and know that we got a lot more games to go and it’s still really early, but I’m speaking personally. I know it’s not fun to just keep losing and losing games, so I’d like to make a change and hopefully start making steps in the right direction,” said the 2025 NBA Draft first overall pick.
Flagg has struggled to start his NBA career. He averages 14.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals on the season. The former Duke University prospect shoots just 39.4% from the field and 29.0% from 3-point range. However, Flagg is not alone in his slow offensive start. As a team, Dallas ranks dead last in offensive rating at 103.2.
Flagg is not used to being near the bottom of the standings in his basketball career. He finished his high school career at Montverde Academy, where he led the team to a 33-0 record and a national championship in the 2023-24 campaign. He went 26-9 in his one season at Duke and reached the Elite 8 in March Madness. Flagg spoke on this unusual circumstance.
“For me, it’s the most I’ve lost since, I think ever…I wouldn’t say anyone is happy,” Flagg said of himself and his teammates. Dallas currently sits tied with the Pelicans for the worst record in the Western Conference.
Mavericks Dig For Answers in the Starting Lineup
Head coach Jason Kidd is searching for a consistent starting five that works, but he has yet to find it. Injuries to Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford certainly impacted this process.
Flagg started the first seven games of the season at point guard, even though he works best as a three or four. After the Mavericks’ Oct. 24 loss to the Washington Wizards, Kidd said the team remains “short-handed” at the one. Six games later, against New Orleans, he made a significant change. D’Angelo Russell started at point guard, sending a struggling Klay Thompson to the bench.
As a result, Flagg moved to his natural forward position and turned in a better performance. He collected 20 points, nine rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two blocks. However, the team still struggled offensively, falling to the Zion Williamson-less Pelicans.
The Mavericks must find a way to, at least, tread water until Irving returns. Otherwise, they could end up missing the playoffs for the second straight campaign.