Mavericks' Cooper Flagg ranked among the top small forwards for 2025-26 season
Flagg logged two appearances with the Mavericks, averaging 20.5 points, five rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals on 35.7% shooting from the field. He produced 31 points and four rebounds in his final appearance on July 12 against the San Antonio Spurs.
The No. 1 pick logged 62 minutes in the desert, showcasing each element of his game that made him so highly touted out of Duke. He has everything needed to help the Mavericks now, a key reason why HoopsHype ranked him 20th on its list of top small forwards for next season.
Flagg has fantastic size and length (he measured in at 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot wingspan at the NBA Draft Combine), the skill to handle the ball and knock down tough shots from all three levels, great athleticism and, maybe most importantly, elite competitiveness, which should help him make a huge impact on the defensive end, possibly as early as in his rookie season.
Flagg is viewed as a generational prospect on the court and enters next season with tremendous hype as the front-runner to win Rookie of the Year. He is projected to play a key role as a first-year player, and the Mavericks are eager to see him take the court.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said the team is going to ask a lot of him during the upcoming season to maximize his development. They will experiment with him playing on and off the ball to ensure he can impact games in various ways.
Kidd believes Flagg landed in a good situation with the Mavericks, given their mixture of veterans and young players. The organization is hopeful that Flagg can have a smooth transition to the NBA and help the team make another deep playoff run.
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