‘He’s Done An Incredible Job’: Cooper Flagg Adjusting To Point Guard Role For Dallas Mavericks

Grant AfsethOctober 16, 2025October 21, 2025no comment

Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA

Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

Cooper Flagg’s first NBA preseason wasn’t about easing into the league — it was about proving he belongs.

The 18-year-old No. 1 overall pick closed out the Dallas Mavericks’ exhibition slate with another steady performance in Wednesday’s 121–94 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at T-Mobile Arena, showing maturity and versatility beyond his years while handling point-guard duties in a massive starting lineup.

Flagg started the final two preseason games as the Mavericks’ lead ball handler, shifting from his natural forward spot at Duke to orchestrating a lineup alongside Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II.

The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 12.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists across those two starts — providing poise and control as the team leaned on its physical advantage.

A Supersized Experiment

Head coach Jason Kidd has been open about his willingness to test unconventional combinations, and Flagg’s late-preseason move to point guard represented one of the team’s boldest.

While Kidd stopped short of committing to opening the season with the rookie running the offense, he said the early returns have been highly encouraging.

“There’s a lot of good, positive stories here, and so we have some time to make a decision,” Kidd said. “But I think [Flagg] has done an incredible job of handling the situation of running the team. The other thing that I think is going unnoticed is that his teammates enjoy him running the team.”

Kidd praised Flagg’s awareness and accountability in managing the flow of the offense — something he described as rare for a player so young.

“He’s got to keep an index of who got shots, what was the last shot, and that’ll come with reps,” Kidd said. “But he’s done an incredible job handling the situation of running the team.”

The Mavericks’ jumbo lineup — featuring players ranging from 6-foot-6 to 7-foot-1 — overwhelmed the Lakers after halftime, outscoring them 68–28 in the second half. Dallas dominated the paint and the boards, using length and switchability to dictate pace and rhythm.

“We used our size to our advantage,” Flagg said. “Coach put a lot of length out there, and I thought we did a good job using it. Defensively, we were switchable and rebounded well. There’s still work to do, but I like what we showed.”

Learning Through Mistakes

The Mavericks’ offense wasn’t flawless early. The starters shot just 3-of-15 from deep and fell behind 22–10 in the opening minutes before regrouping.

Flagg said the group is still finding rhythm with spacing and timing.

“Just continuing to get comfortable,” Flagg said. “I made some mental lapses today — time and score situations, awareness of the clock. I need to stay more attached defensively and not let a hot player keep getting looks. That’s all part of learning.”

His comments came after an early defensive test guarding Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, who opened the game with 18 points and five 3-pointers in less than five minutes. Kidd said such moments are valuable for a player of Flagg’s size adjusting to the realities of NBA pick-and-roll play.

“No matter if you’re 6-4, 6-2, or 6-8, when you’re in a pick-and-roll in this league against guys who know how to run it, it’s hard,” Kidd said. “It becomes a two-man game, and we’ll get better at that. But with his competitiveness, he’s going to figure it out sooner than later, and the more he’s in these situations, the more he’s going to benefit.”

Earning the Trust of Veterans

While his stats tell part of the story, Flagg’s demeanor has stood out most — particularly to Anthony Davis, who’s been both a mentor and frontcourt partner during camp.

“He’s been really good,” Davis said after Tuesday’s practice. “He’s making great plays on both ends. He can handle the basketball, and with D’Angelo [Russell] out, we wanted to let him run some point. He did a great job making reads—there are some things to improve, but that’s everyone. He’s definitely been a standout for us this preseason.”

After the game, Davis reinforced that confidence, emphasizing that Flagg’s attitude has allowed him to thrive in a veteran-heavy environment.

“You’d have to ask him how he feels, but it seems like he’s handling it well,” Davis said. “There are things we help him with as vets—like tonight, I should’ve recognized the clock in the first quarter and communicated better. But he’s playing phenomenal on both ends and adjusting really well. He asks questions and listens. Most rookies hit a wall, but I think his season will be different. Even with high expectations, we don’t have to put too much pressure on him to be everything right away. He’s doing everything we ask and more.”

Commanding Offense and Chemistry

Flagg’s growth as a playmaker has been one of the biggest storylines of the Mavericks’ preseason. With Russell expected to return soon, Kidd has emphasized that ball-handling responsibilities will be shared among multiple players. Flagg said that flexibility has made the offense more dynamic.

“There’s a lot of room to grow,” Flagg said. “I don’t think of it as one person being the point guard. If you watch, P.J. brought it up a lot, I did too, and Ryan [Nembhard] did as well. We share that responsibility. If I’m getting picked up full court, I’ll tell P.J. to bring it up—it’s about making it easier on each other and staying in rhythm.”

That shared mindset has helped the Mavericks maintain balance and pace despite their size-heavy rotation.

“We’re getting great looks,” Flagg said. “Shots haven’t fallen as consistently as we want, but it’s preseason—they’ll come. We trust the work we’ve put in. When we move the ball and play our brand of basketball, we get what we want.”

Ready for What’s Next

As Dallas prepares for opening night, Kidd and the coaching staff remain encouraged by what they’ve seen from the rookie.

Whether Flagg begins the season as the starting point forward or not, his command, unselfishness, and defensive potential have given the Mavericks a new dimension — and perhaps, a long-term answer at a position that often defines winning.

“He’s going to keep learning,” Kidd said. “But the way he’s handled every situation — it’s been impressive. He’s ready for whatever we throw at him.”

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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