‘He’s Going To Be One Of The Best’: Jason Kidd Massively Praises Cooper Flagg’s Future After NBA Debut

Jake RogersOctober 23, 2025October 23, 2025no comment

Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Dylan Harper, NBA

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Jason Kidd has seen his share of NBA debuts over two decades as a player and coach, but what he witnessed Wednesday night in San Antonio left him certain the Dallas Mavericks’ top draft pick is on a special path. Despite the 125-92 loss to the Spurs, Kidd said Cooper Flagg’s first game reflected a rare mix of composure, competitiveness, and promise.

Kidd made clear his belief that Flagg will evolve into one of the NBA’s premier players.

“I like the way he played,” Kidd said. “He’s going to be one of the best players to play this game. For him to see as a rookie how they’re playing him, to be able to go back and watch the tape — because he’s going to see it again — so he can get better… with a double-double to come out as a rookie is not bad.”

Jason Kidd Sees a Foundation for Greatness

Flagg finished his debut with 10 points and 10 rebounds while trying to hold his own against Victor Wembanyama, who erupted for 40 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks. The matchup was a daunting one, but Kidd said it was exactly the kind of challenge that will speed up the 18-year-old’s development.

“I thought Cooper played within himself,” Kidd said. “He took what the defense gave him, was making plays and diving on the floor. He’s not going to go out there and shoot every time he touches it. He tries to play the game the right way.”

Flagg echoed his coach’s assessment, acknowledging that his debut wasn’t perfect but emphasizing that he’s focused on improving with each game.

“Not great,” Flagg said. “Obviously, I didn’t play incredibly well. But you got to move past it and try to focus on Friday (against Washington). It’s basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s not always going to be perfect. But you got to adjust and be better on the fly.”

Learning From a Tough Start

For Kidd, the debut was less about the box score and more about the learning process. He said Flagg’s ability to process adversity will define how quickly he adapts to the NBA pace.

“He’ll learn from this one,” Kidd said. “We all will.”

Kidd added that facing Wembanyama so early in his career offers Flagg a “perfect teaching moment” — the type of game he can revisit on film to identify adjustments and patterns. The Mavericks plan to give the young forward more on-ball reps in upcoming games to continue testing his feel against elite defenders.

Flagg said he saw firsthand the importance of physicality and attention to detail at this level — particularly when battling someone of Wembanyama’s length and skill.

“It’s tough,” Flagg said. “You can do everything right defensively, and he still finds a way to score. That’s what makes him special. But it also shows what I need to work on — staying strong, making quick reads, and not letting one play affect the next one.”

Looking Ahead

Dallas will return home Friday to face the Washington Wizards, giving Flagg another opportunity to grow from experience. Kidd said the focus now is helping the rookie channel lessons from the opener into sharper execution on both ends of the floor.

“He’s going to be special,” Kidd said. “It’s just a matter of time.”