Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg. Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Staggering stat shows it's time for Mavs to reassess use of Cooper Flagg

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Nov 10, 2025 10:01 AM ET

The Dallas Mavericks were given the keys to a Ferrari. The only problem is that Jason Kidd may not know how to drive it.

Cooper Flagg's talents are more than evident. He's a seemingly generational player who can stuff the stat sheet and do a little bit of everything.

That doesn't mean that he should do everything for this team, at least not at this point in his development.

And, as shown by NBA insider Evan Sidery, Kidd's insistence on using Flagg as the team's offensive initiator and primary ball-handler isn't doing anybody any favors.

The Mavs can't keep using Cooper Flagg this way

"The Mavericks are only scoring 97.8 points per 100 possessions when Cooper Flagg is on the court," wrote Sidery. "When Flagg is off the court, Dallas’ offensive rating shoots up to 109.4. Dallas playing Flagg out of position at point guard has been a disservice to him and the team’s success."

The Mavericks are only scoring 97.8 points per 100 possessions when Cooper Flagg is on the court.

When Flagg is off the court, Dallas’ offensive rating shoots up to 109.4.

Dallas playing Flagg out of position at point guard has been a disservice to him and the team’s success. pic.twitter.com/oexqMTNJ7t
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) November 8, 2025

Flagg is a willing passer with impressive basketball IQ. He'll always try to make the right play, and he won't look to play hero-ball.

That doesn't mean he's a point forward. He can put the ball on the floor and initiate the break every now and then, but he's not a primary playmaker, and that's perfectly fine.

That's not what made him the No. 1 pick, nor what's going to help the Mavs get back to contention after a 3-7 start to the season.

And while not having Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving has obviously taken a toll on this team, it's time to pull the plug on the Flagg point forward experiment before they ruin one of the most promising prospects in NBA history.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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