Early in the 2025-26 NBA season, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd started Cooper Flagg at point guard. Kidd’s decision led to backlash since Flagg had not previously played the position. It certainly gave Flagg a challenge in his rookie season, and the decision surely helped him grow as a player. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James recently shared his thoughts on the backlash Kidd received, via Christian Clark of The Athletic.
“Kidd early on got a little scrutinized because they started him at point guard at times, and I thought that was unfair,” James said. “I think it’s great to put the ball in somebody’s hands so they can just go through the rough patches. And when you go through the rough patches, it allows you to grow at a rate faster than other players.”
Is Flagg going to be a long-term point guard in the NBA? While today’s game features position-less basketball at times, Flagg probably won’t spend most of his time taking the ball up the floor. Dallas will likely look to add a true point guard who can start alongside Flagg for years to come.
LeBron James understands what Kidd was thinking with the decision, however. The Mavs were in the middle of a rebuilding season regardless, and now Flagg has valuable experience at a difficult position.
Flagg, who is only 19 years old, has enjoyed an impressive rookie season. He is averaging 21.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals per outing. He is a strong candidate to win the NBA Rookie of the Year.
Early in the 2025-26 NBA season, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd started Cooper Flagg at point guard. Kidd’s decision led to backlash since Flagg had not previously played the position. It certainly gave Flagg a challenge in his rookie season, and the decision surely helped him grow as a player.