As the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade continues to haunt the halls of the Dallas Mavericks (2-5), it’s up to Cooper Flagg to prove if he’s a worthy long-term investment for a team still reeling from the loss of its homegrown superstar.
But while the NBA season has just started, Flagg is already drawing comparisons from Larry Bird to LeBron James, highlighting a potentially high ceiling for a very young player.
Stats don’t lie
According to ESPN, the 6-foot-9 Flagg averaged 31.3 minutes of playing time in the Mavericks’ seven games while shooting a total field goal percentage of 39.8%.
His rookie numbers are solid at 13.6 points per game, 2.9 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 1.9 turnovers.
From the three-point range, Flagg is decently accurate by 33.3%, especially for a team that has been struggling from outside the perimeter.
With these stats in mind, it’s noteworthy to mention that at 18 years old, Flagg is currently the youngest player in the league, and one of the youngest-ever to play in the NBA.
With Kyrie Irving only set to return for Dallas in the second phase of the NBA regular season, the obligation to orchestrate the Mavericks’ offense was entrusted to Flagg, away from his natural floor role as a forward.
Bird-esque or LeBron-esque?
Considering this context, if Flagg can sustain this momentum, he is a shoo-in for the Rookie of the Year conversation.
Flagg has contributed 83 points, 39 rebounds, and 18 assists in his first six matches, echoing the early feats of LeBron James, who tallied 101 points, 46 rebounds, and 42 assists in the same span, and at the same age.
James, who went straight out of high school to join the NBA 2003 Draft, offers some semblance of a career path for Flagg, who only played about one year for Duke University before becoming pro.
For Mavs minority owner Mark Cuban, Flagg is the new player to watch out for.
“No question. Cooper Flagg is the real deal,” said Cuban in a post.
Meanwhile, former Lakers legend Michael Cooper sees another comparison to Flagg’s skillset and potential, especially the rookie’s ball-handling ability.
“There’s a young man now – Cooper Flagg. Watching him play the other night, that kid is going to be very special, an 18-year-old. 6’9″, 6’10”.”
“They are playing him as a point guard now,” said the five-time NBA champion in an interview.
Cooper believes Flagg can be the successor of one of the Lakers’ foremost archenemies.
“I mean, that young man has the potential to be as good as a player of Larry Bird’s caliber or any NBA player, but he’s a special player,” he added.
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Depth is key
Can Flagg save Dallas? Not yet, but it’s not really necessary so far since, at full strength, the Mavericks have one of the deepest player pools in the league, offering elite players at nearly all positions.
Once Irving returns, Flagg will surely be reinstated as a small forward, along with Klay Thompson as shooting guard.
Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford are expected to man the front court once healthy, with Anthony Davis staying in his natural role as a power forward.
Shooters like P.J. Washington, Max Christie, and D’Angelo Russell can help reinforce Dallas as a true perimeter threat.
With that said, the Mavericks still have some hiccups to address if they want to win enough to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Present stats show that Dallas ranks lowest in three-point makes at 10.1%, 27th in three-point accuracy at 31.6%, and 23rd in three-point attempts 32.1%.
So far, Dallas’ bread and butter is its free throws made and free throw attempts, rated at 31.6% and 28.9%, respectively, ranking eighth overall in both categories.
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SportJustSport writers