Mavericks' Jason Kidd eager to let Cooper Flagg run the show: 'I want to put him at the point guard'

Yahoo

13 hours ago

Cooper Flagg will give the world its first sneak peek at his NBA career when the Dallas Mavericks face off against the Los Angeles Lakers on July 10 in the league's annual Las Vegas Summer League.
When that happens, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd wants his No. 1 overall pick running the show.
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"I'm excited about giving him the ball against the Lakers and see what happens," Kidd said Friday during Flagg's introductory press conference in Dallas. "Let's get it started, right off the bat."
Flagg is a do-it-all forward, the 6-foot-9 kind who led a 35-win Duke team in all five major statistical categories as a freshman this past season. While earning Naismith National Player of the Year honors, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.
The Maine native was the main event at this year's NBA Draft, as he became the youngest draftee to go first overall since LeBron James in 2003.
But Kidd is struck by Flagg's maturity.
"Just sitting here listening to him, isn't it incredible?" Kidd said Friday. "I mean, we're talking about an 18-year-old who has all the right answers and is talking about working out after this. But when you talk about his gift, he's a basketball player. And he's a winner."
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Flagg is poised to keep winning games in bunches at the NBA level, and that's an opportunity few No. 1 overall picks have enjoyed their first season in the league. Even though the Mavericks had a mere 1.8% chance of winning this year's NBA Draft Lottery, they scored the No. 1 pick. In the process, Dallas — which saw its injury-riddled 2024-25 season end in the Western Conference's final play-in game — became the fourth-longest shot to ever win the draft lottery.
In other words, a year removed from making the NBA Finals, and months after sending shockwaves throughout the league when they traded now-former franchise centerpiece Luka Dončić to the Lakers, the Mavericks snuck into the lottery and came out with the top pick.
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As expected, that pick became Flagg, who eventually will be joined by the likes of Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson. Those three are all at least 32 years old, but they have a combined six NBA championships and 24 All-Star appearances.
"I think it's a blessing," Flagg said. A lot of people in this position or this situation aren't granted this opportunity. So I just feel really blessed and grateful for the situation I've been given."
He continued: "I'm just looking forward to being a sponge. Just getting down here, I'm excited to just learn, soak it all in and learn from the guys that are older and have been through it all before."
Kidd was also drafted by the Mavericks, but back in 1994 when Dallas had the No. 2 overall pick after a 13-69 season. The now-fifth-year Mavericks head coach reflected on his own rookie season Friday, noting how he didn't have as many veterans to lean on at the time.
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No player on Dallas' end-of-season 1994-95 roster had more than six years of NBA experience, according to Sports Reference.
Experience is one thing, a collection of Hall of Fame résumés is another. Flagg is surrounded by both.
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 03: Kyrie Irving #11 and Klay Thompson #31 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrate after a score during the second half against the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Center on November 03, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by)
(Sam Hodde via Getty Images)
"He's very lucky to have veterans, future Hall of Famers," Kidd said. "When you talk about Ky and Klay and then AD, just understanding the vets are going to protect him and help him. And they're going to push him."
Kidd added: "So I think when he's stepping into this situation, there's no better situation for him to learn the game, on and off the floor."
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Even with all of that talent at his side, Flagg isn't expected to take a back seat. Kidd wants him to do a bit of everything.
"I think it's a versatile position, doing a lot of different things," Flagg said, when asked about where on the court he'll be playing. "With the team, looking at the roster, we can play a really good brand of positionless basketball with a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things. I think that would be one of [our] biggest strengths, and I think just trying to play to that and just doing whatever I can to help the team win."
Kidd said Flagg answered that question perfectly.
"Because I don't look at the position," Kidd said.
The former 10-time All-Star point guard went on: "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."
Kidd acknowledged that he'll have Flagg play the 2 and the 3 as well, and it's reasonable to expect him to spend some time at the 4, too. Those positions, though, are comfortable for Flagg, Kidd pointed out.
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"We want to push," Kidd said of Flagg playing some point guard. "And I think he's going to respond in a positive way. It's alright to fail. It's alright to turn the ball over. We've talked about that."
The first season of Kidd's four-year stint as the Milwaukee Bucks' head coach was forward Giannis Antetokounmpo's second season in the NBA. Kidd recalled Antetokounmpo — now a nine-time All-Star and one-time NBA champion — failing when he was first given a chance to run point.
"But he wanted to come back and have the ball," Kidd said of a young Antetokounmpo.
Kidd is confident Flagg will be the same way.