'Ready to Face Challenges': Cooper Flagg Embracing Pressure and Growth with Dallas Mavericks

The smile was real, but the moment was bigger than that. As Cooper Flagg sat beside Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison and head coach Jason Kidd, the reality of his new life settled in. No longer the rising prospect from Maine or the phenom at Duke, Flagg is now the No. 1 overall pick — and the latest face of a franchise that still expects to win now.

“I think it’s a blessing,” Flagg said during his introductory press conference. “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.”

It’s a rare path for a No. 1 pick — joining a team headlined by highly accomplished players with Hall of Fame-caliber veterans like Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson. But Dallas isn’t in rebuild mode. The Mavericks are retooling, trying to pivot quickly after a transformative year.

“We’re in win-now mode, and he adds to that,” Harrison said. “But he’s also the future of the franchise. So I think you get two in one, so to speak. It’s a perfect storm for us.”

Jason Kidd is Ready to Challenge Cooper Flagg

There was no soft rollout from Jason Kidd. When asked how he plans to bring along an 18-year-old prospect, the former All-NBA guard didn’t mention patience or ease. Instead, he leaned into discomfort and responsibility.

“I want to put him at the point guard,” Kidd said. “I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts—being able to run the show, being able to play the two, play the three. He’s comfortable playing that. But we want to push. And I think he’s going to respond in a positive way.”

Kidd emphasized the importance of allowing Flagg to grow through failure — an approach he’s used with other stars he’s coached, including Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“It is all right to fail. It is all right to turn the ball over,” Kidd said. “We’ve talked about that. Just understanding the guys that I’ve been around that have been young, from Giannis, giving him the ball and he failed, but he wanted to come back and have the ball. So I’m excited about giving him the ball against the Lakers and seeing what happens. Let’s get it started right off the bat.”

Kidd sees Flagg not just as a wing or secondary scorer, but as a long-term initiator. Ball-handling, decision-making, and two-way versatility were all referenced as core to Flagg’s immediate identity.

“Just from past experiences, being in this seat, you know, being one. But just sitting here listening to him is incredible,” Kidd added. “We’re talking about an 18-year-old who has all the right answers, and is talking about working out after this. His poise — he’s going to be successful for a long time. He likes to work. He’s not afraid to work. And he comes from a great family. So I’m very blessed, and the Mavs are very blessed to have him a part of the family.”

A Franchise Cornerstone with a Defensive Edge

From day one, the Mavericks expect Flagg to be part of their two-way identity, something he was eager to embrace. Coming off a dominant freshman campaign, he looks ready to make an instant impact after averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game on 48.1% shooting from the field and 38.5% from deep. He guided Duke to the Final Four and became the second freshman in school history to sweep the National Player of the Year awards.

“Obviously, that’s something that’s talked a lot about — being a two-way guy,” Flagg said. “The culture of playing both sides of the ball, playing really hard, making the right plays all the time. So I think that’s something I’m able to do at a high level — just make the right plays and play both sides of the ball.”

When asked what position he expects to play, Flagg leaned into the Mavericks’ growing vision of positionless basketball.

“I think it is a versatile position, doing a lot of different things,” Flagg said. “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. So I think that would be one of the biggest strengths. And I think just trying to play to that and just doing whatever I can to help the team win.”

He later added that his favorite play is likely a poster dunk, but it was clear his love of the game is rooted in something more profound — a commitment to winning above all.

“I play to win. I play to compete. I play to play really hard,” Flagg said. “Those are the reasons that I love the game, and I fell in love with the game. That’s kind of created that competitive spirit and drive.”

From Jon Scheyer’s Trust to Jason Kidd’s Vision

Flagg’s development over the last year at Duke under Jon Scheyer was a significant turning point. After initially facing growing pains, he emerged as a high-usage creator and defensive anchor. The shift came as Scheyer kept placing the ball in Flagg’s hands — and never looked back.

“I think just getting comfortable with the ball in my hands,” Flagg said of his biggest growth area. “Coach Scheyer really trusted me with that, right away. I had to go through some mistakes, some trials, some tribulations, and just figure it out. But Coach Scheyer never went away from me, never stopped trusting me. And I think that’s what helped it just really get me comfortable throughout the year and get really efficient.”

He also mentioned that the Duke spotlight — in the NIL and media-heavy college basketball era — served as helpful preparation.

“Being able to go to Duke and be under that spotlight, it’s kind of good preparation,” Flagg said. “Even nowadays, with the NIL era and stuff like that, college kids are under a bigger microscope than ever. I think it was just great for me to kind of have that year of preparation.”

And then there was Team USA. Flagg’s standout performances last summer helped cement his status as the presumptive No. 1 pick — and gave him early exposure to the league’s elite.

“I think that experience was really important for me,” Flagg said. “It was such a good learning experience for me to just be able to go out there and share the court with 12, 13 Hall-of-Fame-caliber players. I think that will help me make this transition, and just being confident in myself.”

Cooper Flagg: “I Want to Impact Winning at a High Level”

Flagg didn’t focus on stats or highlight reels when asked what he wants to be known for as a rookie.

“I would say just they would talk about how I was able to impact the game,” Flagg said. “I want to be a really high-impact player and just impact winning at a really high level.”

That mindset, Harrison said, is what makes Flagg such a unique addition to a franchise seeking long-term continuity.

“Everybody I talk to—whether it’s the coach, he talks about, ‘When I can coach my best player hard, my job’s easy,’” Harrison said. “His teammates—the first thing they say is, ‘He’s the most competitive. He’s the best teammate I ever had.’ The people that are around the team, the support staff, they say he’s not entitled. He just wants to be part of the group.

“You talk about building the championship culture, and you talk about winners—those are the things that are made of.”

The Road Ahead

Flagg is expected to make his Summer League debut in Las Vegas on July 10 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Whether or not he runs point, Kidd has already made it clear: Flagg will be in the fire from day one.

“There’s going to be a lot of challenges,” Flagg said. “But it’s something that Coach Scheyer talked a lot about last year — ‘The obstacle is the way.’ Not hiding from anything. Just being ready to face challenges and overcome them.”

For now, Flagg is simply ready to work.

“I’m just looking forward to going through the season and learning,” Flagg said.

The Mavericks aren’t waiting for the future. They believe it arrived with Cooper Flagg — and it’s ready now.