Jason Kidd Praises Cooper Flagg's Preseason Performance

As the Dallas Mavericks prepare for the upcoming NBA season, head coach Jason Kidd remains coy about Cooper Flagg's position within the team. Following a convincing 121-94 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in their preseason finale, Kidd acknowledged the impressive performance of the rookie, but stopped short of naming him the starting point guard.

Flagg, who started at point guard for the final two preseason games, initially played at forward during the first two matchups where D'Angelo Russell managed the point duties. While Kidd did not publicly confirm Flagg's official role, he praised the young player's ability to manage the team dynamics. “He’s got to keep an index of who got shots, what was the last shot, and that’ll come with reps,” said Kidd. “But I think he has done an incredible job of running the team. The other thing that I think is going unnoticed is that his teammates enjoy him running the team.”

Flagg's Preseason Statistics and Expectations

Throughout the preseason, Cooper Flagg demonstrated remarkable comfort on the court, averaging 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in just under 22 minutes per game. The Mavericks have pushed him to take control of the offense since the Summer League, a task Kidd became interested in after reviewing Flagg’s college tape at Duke. Kidd saw parallels between Flagg's playing style and that of NBA legend Grant Hill, who was known for his unique blend of forward size and ball-handling prowess.

D'Angelo Russell was signed in the off-season as a temporary point guard while star player Kyrie Irving recovers from a torn ACL. Flagg, should he secure a starting role, could bring a different dynamic to the Mavs lineup, especially given the size of other players like Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II. If Flagg succeeds in running the offense from the outset, it could propel the Mavericks as a formidable opponent in the league.

As the regular season edges closer, all eyes will be on the Mavericks to see how Kidd chooses to deploy Flagg. The Mavs will kick off their season against the San Antonio Spurs on October 22.