Flagg, Dallas Mavericks and Nets
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Lately, Cooper Flagg has gone above and beyond the call of duty. The rookie sensation for the Dallas Mavericks has been entrusted with the of starting point guard role. With that will come a certain amount of criticism as to whether the No.1 pick coming off one year at Duke has what it takes.
The historical context makes the performance even more notable. Several elite players entered the NBA as teenagers, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Tracy McGrady. None recorded a game with at least 20 points, five assists, and zero turnovers before turning 19.
Is it too early for me to assume the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year race has already been narrowed down to two players? Probably, but with the way Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel have been playing, it feels difficult to see another player crashing the party.
Cooper Flagg takes over the No. 1 spot in NBA Rookie Power Rankings as Derik Queen surges, highlighting a standout class on Dec. 11.
Cooper Flagg’s recent rise in play and two-way impact have vaulted the Mavericks rookie into the lead for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year race.
“I’m not saying he is Kobe, but I remember what that relationship looked like,” Thompson said about Flagg comparing him to Bryant. “Now that I’m in that position, I want to show him how much this game means to me, being out there every night.”
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"He has a lot of flash of T-Mac in his game" - DeMarcus Cousins would still take Ace Bailey over Cooper Flagg in a 2025 Class redraft
DeMarcus Cousins doubles down on his take that Ace Bailey should have been the No.1 pick of the 2025 NBA Draft because he is the closest player to McGrady.
The Los Angeles Lakers won't be thrilled with a recent reunion idea involving their star guard and the Dallas Mavericks.
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