Cooper Flagg Keeps Cool as Dallas Faces Tough Times

The Dallas Mavericks are having a rough start to the season, and things have gone downhill fast. What began with big hopes after drafting Duke star Cooper Flagg has turned into a mix of losses, injuries, and front-office drama.

The Mavericks were supposed to rise again after winning the draft lottery and picking Cooper Flagg, a young player full of promise. But after just 12 games, Dallas sits at 3–9, and the excitement has faded. The big trade made by former general manager Nico Harrison didn’t work out as planned — and it ended up costing him his job.

Now, Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi are running things together until the team finds a new general manager. That means Cooper Flagg has already worked under three different GMs in less than a month of his NBA career — not an easy situation for any rookie.

Even with all the chaos, Cooper Flagg has handled it calmly. After the Mavericks’ 123–114 loss to the Phoenix Suns in their first game since Harrison’s firing, Flagg spoke with maturity beyond his age.

“For me, it’s about basketball,” Flagg said. “I didn’t know Nico for very long, but he was a good guy and we had a solid relationship. Whatever happens above me is not something I can control. I just try to show up, be myself, and get better every day.”

Head coach Jason Kidd shared a similar view, saying the team needs to focus on basketball again. Kidd made a bold move during the game, putting Flagg — who’s usually a forward — at point guard because the Mavericks are missing several key players. Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and PJ Washington are all out with injuries, leaving the team short-handed.

Cooper Flagg finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Klay Thompson scored 19. But it wasn’t enough to take down the Suns.

Flagg says he’s trying to tune out the noise. “There’s always stuff on social media.”

It’s clear the young star is keeping his cool despite the pressure. Whether he can help the Mavericks get back on track is the big question now.

Also Read: Mavericks Expected to Fire GM Nico Harrison After Slow Start