This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/mavericks/onsi as Jason Kidd explains controversial Cooper Flagg decision that could pay off for Mavericks.

What Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said to Dereck Lively II amid a season-ending foot surgery update this week.

The Dallas Mavericks (9-16), who have won four of their last five, host the Brooklyn Nets (6-17) at American Airlines Center on Friday night.

Flagg is now 25 games into his NBA career, where he's averaging 17.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 3.4 APG. And with Friday's win, he joined LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Victor Wembanyama as the only players in NBA history with 400+ points, 150+ rebounds, 30+ steals, and 20+ threes made in the first 25 games of a career, per OptaStats.

The Nets come into this game following a 119-101 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 6 in which they began the game with an 11-point lead and never looked back. Forward Michael Porter Jr. continued what could be an All-Star season by dropping 35 points,

Raul Malo, the Mavericks singer known for his muscular baritone and expansive take on country music, is dead at 60. Malo announced a cancer diagnosis last year.

The history-making Malo – who merged together a huge body of influences to produce a truly singular sound – leaves behind a formidable legacy

The son of Cuban immigrants, Malo and his band blended country, rock and roll, folk, jump blues, Latin music and Cajun rhythms into a distinct sound anchored by his unmistakable voice.

Lakers predicted to cut ties with Luka Doncic's former $33 million Mavericks teammate originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. It’s safe to say the Los Angeles Lakers will look a bit different by the time the Feb. 5 trade deadline passes.