Cooper Flagg’s Rookie Season: A Mixed Bag of Expectations and Reality
Cooper Flagg’s rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks has been a mixed bag of expectations and reality. As the rare No. 1 pick, Flagg expected to gain playoff experience right away, especially with a franchise that features veteran future Hall of Famers. However, reality has been a rough contrast, with the Mavs sitting at 18-26 and in 12th place in the Western Conference.
The season has been marred by injuries to key players, including Anthony Davis, who has played only 20 games due to various injuries, and Kyrie Irving, who is recovering from a torn ACL. Despite the disappointing season, Flagg has been getting rave reviews from opposing coaches, scouts, and executives polled by ESPN. “He’s better than advertised, if that’s possible,” a Western Conference scouting director said.
Flagg struggled with efficiency early in the season when he was starting at point guard, a position he had never played. However, since shifting back to his natural forward position, he has averaged 19.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists while shooting 49.2% from the floor in 34 games. “I think it’s a lot of pressure and a lot of responsibility that comes with being a point guard, and I don’t know if I was ready for that or if I was ready to handle that right off the bat,” Flagg said in November.
Flagg’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Flagg’s blend of size, skill, and feel for the game is unique, but it’s his competitive character that earns the most praise from people around the league. “It’s very rare that you get a guy that is that skilled and he plays the hardest of anybody on both sides of the floor,” an East scout said. Flagg’s most glaring weakness is his 3-point shot, which he is working to improve. However, he is shooting 53.5% inside the arc and has already proved to be an outstanding driver despite Dallas’ spacing issues.
According to NBA Advanced Stats, Flagg ranks 12th in the league with 339 points off drives, shooting 53.5% in those situations. Scouting reports note that Flagg is especially effective as a left-handed driver and finisher despite being a natural righty. He is the only player in the league with at least 60 made layups and dunks with his left hand and with his right hand, according to ESPN Research.
Comparison to Other Rookies
Flagg is the betting favorite for Rookie of the Year, with his primary competitor being Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel, his roommate last season at Duke. Knueppel is averaging 19.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game and is on pace to shatter Keegan Murray’s rookie record of 206 3s made. Flagg, however, has already shown that he’s remarkably comfortable as the primary option closing games, ranking seventh in the league in clutch points and assists in clutch situations.
ESPN’s Matt Williams contributed to this story. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Flagg continues to develop and if he can lead the Mavericks to a playoff spot. With his unique blend of skills and competitive character, Flagg is definitely a player to watch in the NBA.
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