Former NBA Player Has High Hopes for Cooper Flagg

Former NBA player Matt Barnes has high hopes for Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg. Here’s why Barnes, 45, praised Flagg, 18, ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.

Former NBA Player’s High Hopes For Cooper Flagg

The Dallas Mavericks have a chance to bounce back this season after an eventful last season, and Barnes agrees. Barnes was asked about Flagg during an appearance for the DLS Mavericks Podcast in Las Vegas.

Barnes responded, “I absolutely love Cooper Flagg. I coach my kids in AAU, so I got to see him for one season, and what stood out to me the most was his effort and energy. I came from an era where effort was necessary, and he has one of the best efforts I’ve seen on both sides of the ball. What excites me most is his defensive prowess. He can be someone in today’s NBA who can guard any position. On offense, he is freakishly athletic and continues to improve his jumper. I am really excited for his future.”

Rookie’s Outlook Entering 2025-26

Like the rest of us, Barnes is excited to see what happens with the star rookie. However, Barnes previously touted the idea that the NBA must’ve helped the Dallas Mavericks somehow because they were a bad enough team.

That said, Dallas’ NBA Draft Lottery odds may or may not be random, but Flagg’s outlook entering 2025-26 is quite bright. The Mavericks still have high-quality players, and he will play for an organization with veterans and veteran leadership.

Final Thoughts

There are significant expectations for the Dallas Mavericks to return to the postseason, and Flagg can help the Mavericks get back on track. His defensive prowess continues to his ability to guard any position, while his offense continues to his freakish athleticism and a continuously improving jumper.