Jason Kidd & Naji Marshall on Cooper Flagg’s Debut | Dallas Mavericks Practice Interviews (10/7/25)

Jason Kidd & Naji Marshall on Cooper Flagg’s Debut | Dallas Mavericks Practice Interviews (10/7/25)

last night in for practice. Uh good. We had uh healthwise great and then uh today great practice. Uh got after it. Um a lot of times after the game you kind of go a little bit easier, but other guys did a great job of competing. Sorry if you’ve been asked this already, but what’s actually going on with Dante and Dennis Smith? Uh Dennis uh participated in half the practice today, so he was better. Dante’s just out. So, so that’s all I can tell you. How’s uh Caleb doing? And do you anticipate seeing him in the preseason? Uh Caleb is doing good. Uh he did uh some practice today, too. Um so, uh he did have to practice. It was good to see him out there. What can you tell us about Delano Banton, Canadian kid, uh skill set, big guard, can pass. Um we’ve seen him on the other side. Good game against you guys last year, didn’t you? You don’t have to remind us. So, yes, he did have a good game. Uh, but skill set, uh, and so we’ll see. Uh, he he practiced a little bit with us today, uh, his first day, but it’s good to have him with us, and we’re excited to have him. He’s not eligible for a two-way spot, is he? No, he’s not. Okay. Well, when you guys obviously have a two-way spot left, what specifically are you looking for for that role, whether it be positionwise or skill set? Yeah, that’s uh something that that’s a good question, Mike. I think can give me uh can we get past two weeks? Uh because it it is it’s a legit what are we looking for? Uh the most skilled player that that can fit that who deserves that. I think that’s a fair answer today. Uh name we don’t have a name yet. And so uh but we have some candidates uh and so we’re excited about those candidates and we’ll see how this training camp you know plays out here in the next two weeks. I asked Naji about how his voice has grown as he’s continued throughout his career. From a coach’s perspective, what do you look for in know individual per player, but what do you look for when guys are using their voice on the team? Yeah, I think it’s great when you talk about winning a championship. Uh those teams have always been teams that have talked to each other um and respected the conversation uh because the information is important uh on and off the floor. And so uh for Naji to be one of those guys that’s using his voice, it only makes us that much better. I want you just like Cooper in those situations where he gets a rebound and pushes ahead and tries to create something like he did last night alone. Yeah, I think that’s just natural for him uh his ability to rebound uh to be able to bring the ball. Uh we talked about it uh before summer league that he was going to handle the ball and I I think uh you saw he was comfortable there uh and he was comfortable last night with that and that just gives us another playmaker when he can bring the ball like that off of rebounds or even off of block shots, right? Being able to do that. But then also if they do score on us, can we, you know, uh, can he bring the ball? We take the ball out with the pace. What’s something that you saw on film today that as you look back from last night, you didn’t realize was happening or something that was really a positive standout from last night? Uh, this is a different team than last year, so there’s no comparison. So, we’re not going to get into the comparison. Uh, this team we’re going to judge uh, from when we started in Vancouver and uh, and so the energy is extremely high. uh the ball is moving. Um being able to just not, you know, rely on AD. We got, you know, other guys, Clay, other DLO, other guys who can score the ball. So, um I thought DLO was great in finding guys. I thought the pace of the game was good in that first half. We have to get better uh in that second half, but fatigue set in and that’s just natural. And I think uh we accepted that and and now we got to learn how once we get tired, how to play through that. One of the main rule changes the NBA introduced this year is the heave rule. Just wondering what’s your thoughts on that and with Naji being I think he was fifth in the league last year. He had eight heaves. Do you anticipate him getting up some more this year? Is there award for the most heaves? No, probably not. There probably will be at some point some get the trophy for most seasons. I I think it’s a part of the game. I understand people are afraid early on before this rule change that their percentages would would go down. Uh but I think it makes sense uh because you can see uh the excitement of someone taking one of those shots and uh and going in. So it could change a game. It it could uh can wing you a game. So I’m not afraid of it. I think the heave and I think the candidate that you brought up, he was fifth or he’ll be shooting for number one because he’s not afraid. So, uh, Naji’s a candidate, uh, he’s probably in the game a lot of times at that point, too, but he’s not afraid to shoot it. PJ was aggressive coming off the bench last night and got to the free throw line pretty often. Just, uh, what did you think about his performance and what are you looking for from him offensively? Yeah, PJ was great uh, attacking. Uh, took advantage of his height and strength last night, get the ball. He got the ball in the paint off the dribble, got to the free throw line. Um, and then also he can play make. So, uh, he’s done that since training campus started, uh, for us being able to be a playmaker, but also to score. I thought his energy, uh, was, uh, extremely high last night, uh, coming off the bench. And when you look at your bench, being able to change games, I thought Maxi and, uh, and PJ did a great job of getting to the free throw line, uh, and playing the game, you know, the right way, but playing the game at a very, very high level. What did you think of the offense in game speed for the first time, seeing it with the guys on the floor and how things were executed? It was good. They got they got tired. That that’s good. They were moving. They were playing with pace and and the more that we can play at that level, uh, the sooner we’ll we’ll adjust to that. Um, and that comes with being in shape. But our depth can be a big part of that is being able to bring guys in that are fresh to keep that level high. How’s Daniel coming along? Daniel’s doing a little running. Uh, and so, uh, I saw him with two shoes on, so that’s good. Uh, but I think he’s he’s feeling better. Um, so he’s going in the right direction. Trying to do offensively this year different than than what you’re doing last year. I think you’re just involving everybody moving the ball. Um, playing fast on the offense and just getting everybody involved. How different is it with this group as opposed to you played a good bunch of time with Luca? So, what’s um I can’t really say it yet. It’s still early, but um even with Luca, when Luca was here early and Kai, we you know um we would get a lot of good shots. Me, Max, uh Quinn Grimes, you know, they would create a lot of good offense for us. Um I think coach is trusting a lot of us to create the offense for ourselves and others this year. Um so that might be the difference. Everybody can create. Jason said you guys wanted to focus on pace, physicality, and defense yesterday. In terms of those three areas, how do you think you guys did? I think we did pretty good, especially for the first game. Couple new guys. I think we look like we’ve been practicing out there. So, um that’s something good to build on. Um and I think those three specific things we uh we did well. When you look at what Cooper did specifically, um scoring those 10 points and those those final few minutes of the second quarter, I guess what stood out about his performance overall? Cooper is just nice, bro. He’s so young. Um he’s so talented. He’s so gifted and he just um just goes out there and hoop, bro. And it’s special to see cuz I remember when I was that age, I wasn’t the number one pick, but I remember the feeling of being out there just trying to hoop and just to see him do the right thing and, you know, cook how he did, run out 10 in a row. That’s amazing to see. Ni, as you continue to grow in your career, how do you navigate using your voice on the team? Um, you know, I kind of been in the league for a minute, so this is my second year here, so I know the offense, I know the defense. So, just whatever way I can help. Um, I’m a talkative person, so it’s easy to talk on the basketball floor. And, you know, not everybody does that. So, just using my voice to to my advantage to help the guys out. Did you see what did you think when uh Dwight Pal takes a hit to the south of the border? And uh but that’s kind of what he does. I mean, does that mean he’s still there? He’s still doing what he does. Yeah, that’s uh DP just being there for the team, you know, whatever it takes. Um everybody does, you know, their individual thing to help the team out and, you know, DP just plays hard as an Mfer, you know what I’m saying? So, sometimes it happens like that, but he balled out yesterday and, you know, helped us secure the victory. So, shout out to DP. uh you and PJ were really aggressive attacking the rim coming off the bench. Just what are some of the ways uh that maybe he helps you out there uh when you’re playing together in the same unit? I mean PJ is just a force. You know what I’m saying? Um not like not like Luke, not comparing him, but like Luke and Kyrie makes the game easier. Um he breaks down the defense and it creates open shots for not just me but Max AD live. So just playing with him and him being aggressive makes the game super easy. you’re one of the guys that really thrived coming off the bench um starting last year. Based off what you learned last year, how can you apply that to I guess how you approach your role this year? Um just staying ready to be honest. um whether I’ll be coming off the bench, starting, god forbid somebody gets hurt, just staying ready and um being wherever my team needs me to be, whether it’s hit open shots, get it stops, rebound, set some guys up, however it may go, I’m ready to do it. Uh what’s the view about Max Christiey’s performance last night and how do you think maybe his game is continuing to grow going into the season? I think um Max had a really good summer, bro. And um I think that showed out there last night. He’s in great shape. um hitting shots. Um I think he just had a great summer and he’s going to have a great season because of that and I’m very I’m looking forward to playing him. Couple more guys. How do you really feel about Dallas traffic? Bro, all I’m saying is bro like you y’all will drive on the emerging lane to get on the exit and last minute get off and start keep driving on the highway. So you basically just created that traffic, bro. And if that’s not a bad driver, I don’t know what is. But everything else, I love Dallas. Don’t get it wrong. I love Dallas. This the driving part. It’s all right. We don’t like the traffic either. All right, guys. Appreciate They get

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd and forward Naji Marshall met with the media following practice in Dallas to discuss Cooper Flagg’s preseason debut, Delano Banton’s addition, team health, and preparation for Saturday’s home game against Charlotte.

Kidd praised the team’s energy after their 106-89 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickies Arena, noting that Flagg’s playmaking and pace “give us another playmaker when he can bring the ball off rebounds.” Marshall also spoke highly of Flagg, calling him “so young, so talented, so gifted. He just goes out there and hoops.”

Flagg impressed in his first NBA action, finishing with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a block in just 14 minutes. Jason Kidd said the rookie has been “doing this since training camp,” while Max Christie added that Flagg “filled up the stat sheet” and “handled pressure really well.”

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