The Dallas Mavericks, after a 1.8% chance to win the NBA lottery, somehow ended up with the No. 1 overall pick and were able to select Duke’s Cooper Flagg in the 2025 NBA Draft. A generational prospect in every sense of the word, Flagg has immediately made the Mavericks one of the most fascinating teams for this upcoming season.
With a veteran and future Hall of Famer like Anthony Davis on the roster, and other excellent pieces like Klay Thompson, PJ Washington, and Derrick Lively rounding out the rotation, the ceiling for Flagg has to be extremely high. Dallas head coach Jason Kidd is hoping to replicate a tried-and-tested formula with his new rookie.
Could Cooper Flagg Be Giannis Antetokounmpo 2.0?
Flagg’s introductory press conference in Dallas brought with it a bunch of hype. Whether it was his side-eye or the general discourse around the team, the attention of the NBA fanbase was centered on the franchise.
But a curious detail for the 2025-26 season came courtesy of Kidd. Speaking about the role Flagg would have as a rookie, Kidd had a rather surprising answer. “He’s a basketball player. And he’s a winner,” was his first description of the Duke superstar.
“I thought he answered the question about position perfectly, because I don’t look at the position,” Kidd said. “I want to put him at the point guard. I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts. Being able to run the show, being able to play the 2, to play the 3.”
Jason Kidd on Cooper Flagg’s versatility:
“I thought he answered the question about position perfectly, because I don’t look at position. I want to put him at the point guard. I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts.” pic.twitter.com/IQ10slPhtK
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) June 27, 2025
Listed somewhere between 6’8″ and 6’9″, Flagg has typically suited up at the power forward position. But with Davis and Washington rounding out the rotation at that spot, Kidd certainly wants some flexibility with his rookie, as Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News reported.
“It’s alright to fail, it’s alright to turn the ball over,” Kidd continued, before bringing attention to the last power forward he nurtured into a ball-handler and point forward role, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Kidd, who was head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks during Antetokounmpo’s first few seasons in the NBA, turned him into a multi-time MVP and Defensive Player of the Year from an outside-the-lottery first-round pick.
It looks like Kidd sees a similar trajectory for Flagg. And he isn’t the only one in the organization. Former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, speaking to Noah Webber of “The Smoking Cuban,” added that he texted Kidd, pushing him to suit Flagg up at the point guard spot.
“Cooper at the point guard, Klay at the 2, PJ at the 3, AD, and then D-Liv and Gaff,” Cuban said. “That’s the biggest team in the NBA.” For a rookie to handle point guard responsibilities, especially on a team with playoff aspirations, is going to be a tough challenge.
Mark Cuban on Cooper Flagg and where he can play:
“I’d send a text to J-Kidd, point guard, point guard, point guard, let him bring the ball up…”
Talks about a lineup of:
– Cooper Flagg
– Klay Thompson
– P.J. Washington
– Anthony Davis
– Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford… pic.twitter.com/nkUYYFhRUn— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) June 27, 2025
But Kidd has made it clear that he’s a firm believer in the 18-year-old and his work ethic. Kidd repeatedly has complimented Flagg’s mindset as he promised to go back to practice after the press conference as well.
For a rookie who led Duke in all five statistical categories last season with averages of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks and steals apiece, the versatility is already visibly apparent.
Moreover, as a 38.5% shooter from distance as a freshman, his 3-point shot is already miles ahead of the Greek Freak.
With comparisons to a future first ballot Hall of Famer already in the sand, it’s going to be up to the rookie to live up to the hype.
