The Dallas Mavericks lucked out this offseason after missing the playoffs in the 2024-25 campaign, landing the No. 1 overall pick and selecting Duke standout Cooper Flagg.
Flagg became just the fourth freshman in NCAA men’s history to win the Naismith College Player of the Year award in 2024-25, helping lead the Blue Devils to a 35-4 record while averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game across 37 appearances.
Now, he’s set to take on a significant role with the Mavericks in his rookie season. However, the 18-year-old joins a veteran-heavy roster featuring Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, which may limit his early breakout potential.
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League insiders weigh in on Cooper Flagg’s ranking by 2026-27
ESPN insiders recently released their rankings for the NBA’s top-100 players entering 2025-26, placing Flagg at No. 52. ESPN's Tim Bontemps reached out to league insiders for their take on Flagg’s trajectory by his second season, and opinions differed.
“Top 25,” a Western Conference assistant coach said. “He’ll be a borderline All-Star and the conversation will be about whether he should make it as a second-year guy or not.”
Another West assistant coach was less optimistic about Flagg’s role but still projected him to crack the top 50.
“I just don’t like the role for him on that team,” the coach said.
Flagg has the potential to be a two-way superstar and is widely considered one of the best prospects in recent memory. While it’s plausible he could take a significant leap after his rookie season, the Mavericks’ veteran stars — Irving and Davis, both holding player options in 2027-28 — could limit immediate opportunities.
For now, Flagg will aim to help the Mavericks make a deep playoff run after a drama-filled 2024-25 campaign that included trading former franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Flagg is clearly Dallas’ future, but that doesn’t mean he can’t make an All-Star-level impact in Years 1 or 2.
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