After the Dallas Mavericks lost to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday at home in overtime, rookie Cooper Flagg spoke about how great a mentor Kyrie Irving has been for him.
Irving isn’t playing this season because of the left ACL injury he suffered last season against the Sacramento Kings, but the All-Star has been in Flagg’s ear since the Mavericks drafted him with the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
“Kyrie has been someone who has been there for me a lot mentally,” Flagg said. “He went through a lot of the same things I’m going through. I’m trying to learn as much as I can from him and understand his perspective.”
The Mavericks dropped to 23-48 after losing to the Clippers. They are in 13th place in the Western Conference standings and will miss the playoffs and NBA play-in tournament.
This is the most Flagg has lost during his basketball life, so it’s been tough for the Maine native, who has been leaning on Irving and other veteran teammates.
“Just leaned on my teammates,” Flagg said. “The guys in the locker room who have long careers and been in this league for a long time. They’ve helped keep me sane throughout this whole process for sure.”
Flagg is putting up stellar numbers despite Dallas’ trying season. The swingman is averaging 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 46.9% from the field, 28.4% from beyond the arc and 80.6% from the free-throw line.
The Mavericks traded future Hall of Famer Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards at the February NBA trade deadline but chose to keep Irving. Dallas didn’t trade Irving despite getting calls on the 2016 NBA champion because the franchise believes Flagg needs to play with an elite point guard to develop the right way, sources told Dallas Hoops Journal.
Irving and Flagg will make their debut as a duo next season. Basketball fans certainly can’t wait for the former Duke stars to play together in Jason Kidd‘s system.
“The fans are still showing up for us,” Flagg said. “Obviously, we haven’t been great and haven’t given them a whole lot to show up for every single night. We haven’t given them the wins. I’ve still loved the support they’ve given me, given the team. We just have to do a better job of giving them things to be happy for.”
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