Green Praises Flagg Ahead of Christmas Day Game

As the Dallas Mavericks gear up for their Christmas Day matchup against the Golden State Warriors, rookie sensation Cooper Flagg is receiving significant recognition from renowned veteran Draymond Green. In a recent appearance on ESPN's Inside the NBA, Green shared his admiration for the 19-year-old, stating, "I think Cooper Flagg is a stud."

Green highlighted Flagg's dual-threat capability, saying, "One thing I can appreciate about him is that he does it on both ends of the floor. He's figuring it out offensively, how to get to his spots. And then defensively, he's to be reckoned with on the defensive side of the ball." Green's praise comes after Flagg's impressive display in his rookie season, where he has quickly adapted to the NBA.

With a record of 12-19 entering Thursday's game, the Mavericks have faced challenges, but Flagg's performance has sparked hope for a turnaround. His statistics since November 29 speak volumes, averaging an impressive 25.1 points per game. Green attributes Flagg's improvement to him finally playing his natural position as a forward instead of struggling as the team’s primary point guard.

As they prepare to face off, Green and the Warriors (15-15) are focused on maintaining their place in NBA history as one of the league's last dynasties, while aiming to neutralize Flagg's impact during the pivotal Christmas Day game.