With Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis potentially not being ready for the 2025-26 NBA season for the Dallas Mavericks, there is a chance that rookie Cooper Flagg maybe relied upon. He was selected with the number one overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Flagg has a chance to be a franchise icon for the 10-15 years. He only played one season of college basketball with the Duke Blue Devils. Could he potentially be the x-factor for this team this season?
Cooper Flagg Will Be an X-Factor for the Dallas Mavericks
Brian Martin of NBA.com was previewing the Mavericks upcoming 2025-26 NBA season. He believes that Flagg is going to be an x-factor for this team this year and said,
"He has been must-see TV before he ever stepped on an NBA court. From his high school highlights to his outstanding showing with the Select Team that scrimmaged Team USA in preparation for the 2024 Olympics, his run to the NCAA Final Four with Duke and his NBA 2K26 Summer League debut in Las Vegas with the Mavs.
After showcasing his all-around game in a pair of Summer League outings, now it’s time to see how Flagg’s game translates to the NBA over a full 82-game campaign. How will it look as he shares the court with the likes of Davis and Klay Thompson? How much can he impact both ends of the court with his 6-foot-8 frame and strong defensive instincts?"
Flagg is one of the most hyped-up rookies entering the NBA since Victor Wembanyama came into the league for the San Antonio Spurs a couple of years ago. If the former Blue Devils star can average somewhere between 15-20 points per game as a rookie and grab somewhere between five to seven rebounds per game, they will be fine.
If Flagg struggles being the primary option early without Irving and Davis, then the Mavericks are going to struggle trying to win games. The quicker he comes along will be the quicker this team can become contenders again in the Western Conference.
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