NBA midseason report card: Cooper Flagg ‘better than advertised’

it is not way cooper flag Anticipated the start of his rookie season.

Flagg is expected to be the rare No. 1 pick who gets immediate playoff experience, feeling fortunate to land with a franchise that featured some experienced future Hall of Famers. dallas mavericks Cashed in on a 1.8% chance of winning last spring’s draft lottery.

As Flagg’s season has progressed past the midpoint, the reality has been quite the opposite. The Mavs are 18-26 and in 12th place in the Western Conference, putting them on track to acquire another single-digit draft pick to pair with Dallas Flagg.

anthony davisAcquired as the centerpiece of last year’s blockbuster deal that ultimately led to the general manager Nico Harrison’s early season firingOnly played 20 games this season due to various injuries. He will probably never wear a Mavs uniform again, pending trade discussions by the February 5 deadline as he recovers. suffered ligament damage in his left hand.

return date of kyrie irvingHow the co-star on the Mavs’ 2024-25 NBA Finals team will recover from the torn ACL he suffered in early March remains to be determined. He has not yet been cleared to practice, and while Irving has made it clear that he expects to play this season, sources speculate that, given the Mavs’ place in the standings, there will be discussions about postponing his return until next season.

As disappointing as the season has been for Dallas, Flagg is receiving generally complimentary reviews from opposing coaches, scouts and executives surveyed by ESPN.

A Western Conference scouting director said, “If that’s possible he’s better than advertised.”

flag fought He performed with efficiency at the beginning of the season when he was starting at point guard, a position he had never played. Mavs coach Jason Kidd ended that experiment after the first seven games, in which the 6-foot-9 Flagg averaged 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists while shooting only 38.8% from the floor.

Flagg has averaged 19.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists while shooting 49.2% from the floor in 34 games since moving primarily back to his natural forward position.

“I think there’s a lot of pressure and a lot of responsibility that comes with being a point guard, and I don’t know if I was ready for it or I was ready to handle it right off the bat,” Flagg said in November. “I tried my best, and I don’t mean I can’t go back and work on it and get better, but I think it just worked out, where it’s better to help someone else, to relieve the pressure. … It wasn’t perfect, but I think I learned a lot through it.”

Even when Flagg struggles, he still stands up to opposing coaches and officials. Philadelphia’s Nick Nurse noted Flagg’s ability to “maintain his composure” throughout the game despite dealing with the mental and physical fatigue that comes from playing heavy minutes while handling multiple responsibilities.

“His biggest strength is his competitiveness,” said one West GM. “She’s a mother—er.”

Many coaches have commented on Flagg’s tireless effort regardless of the circumstances.

Nuggets coach David Edelman said, “Even when he doesn’t play well, I still like watching him play because of the way he plays.” “I think intensity takes you a long way because when you’re young you have to go through ups and downs. That’s really impressive.”

Flagg’s blend of size, skill and experience is unique, but it’s his competitive character that earns the most praise from people around the league.

One East scout said, “It’s rare that you find someone who is so skilled and plays the hardest game on both sides of the field.” “He’s a winning player.”

game

Cooper goes coast-to-coast for Flag 2

Cooper grabs the flag rebound and finishes with a layup at the other end of the floor.

the flag came in The NBA has arguably as much hype and anticipation as any American prospect Lebron James 23 years ago.

James was the only reference point for Flagg’s offensive production at age 18. Flagg, who turned 19 on December 21, broke James’ NBA records for most points (42) and assists (11) in a game at the age of 18. James is the only player to score more points per game at that age, averaging 20.2 points at age 18, while Flagg averaged 18.8.

Talent evaluators considered Flagg’s scoring somewhat of a pleasant surprise. He was the consensus top-ranked player on draft boards due to his all-around impact, but there was some doubt that Flagg could be a primary scorer, especially early in his career.

One of West’s general managers said, “I actually thought his offense would take longer than before.” “Having all these guys out there has given him the freedom to explore and expand his game. He’s a lot bigger, and he realized he can reach his spot. I always thought he’d be a 1B. [offensive option]But he’s an alpha on your team. He fills every gap.”

The only rookie to rank in the top three in his class in flags, total points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals, he is the betting favorite for Rookie of the Year. Her primary competitor for that honor is Charlotte Con KnuppelFlagg’s roommate at Duke last season. Knueppel is averaging 19.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He’s shooting 43.5% from 3-point range and is on pace to shatter keegan murrayA rookie record of 206 3 was set.

Flagg’s most glaring weakness is his 3-point shot (28.6%), which is an aspect of his game that those around the league anticipate will develop as he re-works his shot mechanics during offseason work. But he’s shooting 53.5% inside the arc, beating defenders with a mix of skill and physicality, a scary thought considering he’ll add significant volume and strength as his body matures.

A West scout said, “The biggest thing that stands out to me is his athleticism.” “If I’m the GM here, I’m adding as much shooting as possible and building around him for a long time.”

Flagg has already proven to be an excellent driver despite Dallas’s spacing issues due to a lack of perimeter shooting. According to NBA Advanced Stats, Flagg ranked 12th in the league with 339 points off drives, shooting 53.5% in those situations.

Scouting reports state that Flagg is particularly effective as a left-handed driver and finisher, despite being naturally right-handed. According to ESPN Research, he is the only player in the league to have made at least 60 layups and dunks with both his left hand and his right hand. He has attempted 109 layups and dunks with his left hand this season, the second-most of any right-hander in the league, trailing only Atlanta. Nichelle Alexander-WalkerAccording to GeniusIQ tracking. He also often makes floaters and hooks with his hands in traffic.

One East scout said, “His ability to finish with both hands at the rim and in traffic just outside the lane and restricted area is impressive.” “He’s a staunch leftist driver. I think teams will embrace this more and more, which may reduce his efficiency.”

Flagg has wowed league veterans with his patience and inspired the three-time MVP Nikola Jokic It was possible to say that the teen “looked really mature out there” after Flagg’s 33-point, 9-rebound, 9-assist performance in a December 23 win. denver nuggets. Flagg has shown that he is remarkably comfortable as the primary option to close out games. He ranks seventh in the league in clutch points (72) and assists (13) in clutch situations, which is defined as the score being within five points in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime.

“He’s exactly what everybody thought,” said the personnel director, a West supporter. “He’s 18 years old and finishing games – making shots and making plays to finish games. It’s not normal at all. It’s really something special.”

ESPN’s Matt Williams contributed to this story.