Cooper Flagg Speaks on Being 'Thrown in the Fire' By Jason Kidd, Mavericks

When the Dallas Mavericks drafted Cooper Flagg first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, they thought they had the perfect complement piece to their current core that could eventually take over as the face of the franchise. Instead, Flagg has had to do everything.

Flagg currently leads the Mavericks in points, rebounds, assists, and steals, which is an incredible feat for anyone, much less a rookie. Because of that, though, the Mavs are just 24-52, which is the 6th-worst record in the NBA. That is not what anyone envisioned for the Mavs this season, even for the most pessimistic analysts.

Flagg appeared on the "Pat McAfee Show" on Wednesday, where he talked about being thrown in the fire right away, including by Jason Kidd playing him at point guard.

"I had to change a lot. Coming in, I wasn't expecting to be thrown in the fire as much," Flagg started. "Obviously, I was looking at AD [Anthony Davis], Kai [Kyrie Irving], Klay [Thompson]. With so many injuries and stuff, it just didn't work out that way, and I was thrown out there with a little bit more than I would've expected and have a little more responsibility, but I think, overall, it's helped me develop. The point guard thing, Coach Kidd gave me that confidence to go out there and be a creator and learn the game in a lot of different ways. I think it's just helped me to get comfortable all around."

Mavericks rookie star Cooper Flagg says he didn’t expect to be thrown in the fire as much during his first year, but has “gotten so much more comfortable at point guard as the season has progressed." #MFFL

(🎥: @PatMcAfeeShow) pic.twitter.com/05cLv07YGx
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) April 1, 2026

Far From the Season Cooper Flagg Imagined

Part of the reason that Cooper Flagg and his family were excited that the Mavericks jumped to the first overall pick was that he wouldn't have to be the focus right away and wouldn't be on a team focused on losing. They were worried about what joining a franchise not focused on winning would do to him and his psyche.

They've found out what that's about. Anthony Davis was in and out of the lineups with various injuries before he was traded to the Washington Wizards in a glorified salary dump, playing just 20 games this season. They knew Kyrie Irving would miss a good chunk of the season as he recovered from a torn ACL, but with the season starting the way it did, they decided to sit him out all year. Klay Thompson is a great veteran to lean on, but he's out of his prime.

Flagg has admitted that all of the losing has gotten to him. He's credited Irving for helping him through it, but the Mavericks need to start winning soon.

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