DALLAS — Bleacher Report believes Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg is the 23rd-best player in the NBA heading into the 2026-27 season.
Flagg is one spot ahead of Deni Avdija of the Portland Trail Blazers and one spot behind NBA legend and new Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James.
“Cooper Flagg is still 19 years old. Let that sink in,” Bleacher Report wrote. “He already has a full campaign in which he averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists, and he doesn’t even turn 20 till December. After that first season, it’s already fair to wonder how many All-NBA teams he can make. They could start piling up as early as 2026‑27. He’s a dynamic slasher and defender with real playmaking chops. And if he starts knocking down the three consistently, he could move into the top 20 in this exercise in short order.”
Flagg Had Outstanding Rookie Season
Flagg had a fantastic rookie season for the Mavericks. The Duke product played in 70 games and averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 46.8% from the field, 29.5% from beyond the arc and 82.7% from the free-throw line.
Flagg recorded 13 double-doubles and won the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year award. His best game was against the Orlando Magic on April 3. The talented swingman put up 51 points in 33 minutes, becoming the first teenager and the youngest player in NBA history to score at least 50 points in a game.
While Flagg’s rookie season was excellent, he’s ready to move on from Year 1 and be better in Year 2.
“I think rookie season is done, so now I’m just improving for the rest of my career. Just trying to get better every single day, and that’s what this offseason was about for me,” Flagg said at the start of October. “Taking care of my body, resting, getting my mind right. But then also just being in the gym, working on individual things, skill things, stuff like that, that are obviously going to allow me to [be] better for the rest of my career, so I’m really, really proud of myself and how the offseason went.”
Here’s a refresher of what Flagg accomplished last season, via ESPN:
- He became the first rookie to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals since Michael Jordan in 1984-85.
- He became the fourth rookie since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77 to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. The others: Luka Doncic, Larry Bird and Jordan.
- He became the first teenager with four 40-point games; the first teenager with consecutive 40-point games; and the first teenager with a 50-point game.
- He was sixth in the league on baskets off drives and, per GeniusIQ tracking, brought the ball up fifth most among all frontcourt players.
Kyrie Loves Flagg
Kyrie Irving, who missed all of last season recovering from his left ACL tear, is a big fan of Flagg.
Irving and Flagg have a close relationship, sources told Dallas Sports Journal. Flagg received constant, invaluable mentorship from Irving last season even though Kyrie didn’t play, sources said.
“He’s going to lead this franchise into the future. You can definitely bank on that,” Irving said about Flagg in China. “He deserves a lot of the praise he’s gotten because he’s carried a lot. … He’s wise beyond his years.”
The Mavericks won only 26 games last season. They should win more games this season with Irving in the fold next to Flagg.
Against the Houston Rockets in China, Irving looked amazing in his first game back from his knee injury. The future Hall of Famer put up 17 points and three assists in 22 minutes while shooting 6-of-13 from the field, 2-of-6 from beyond the arc and a perfect 3-of-3 from the free-throw line.
Dallas begins the 2026-27 regular season on the road against Houston.
“Your talent only gets you so far. Being remembered for your work ethic and how you treated people and also that championship mindset you came in with every day, that’s what people hold on to,” Irving said. “For me as a peer, but also as a brother, I look at him as someone that has a world of potential, but also still needs a lot of guidance, just like we all do in basketball. A lot of teaching, a lot of knowledge being passed.”
It will be fascinating to see if Flagg and Irving can lead the Mavericks back to the NBA playoffs this season.
