The 2025-26 NBA season will be the first time fans see Cooper Flagg in action.
The Dallas Mavericks drafted Cooper Flagg using the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and he has been touted as the next big thing.
Fans have high expectations for Flagg during his rookie season. After all, the rookie has mentors like Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson guiding him.
As a result, Flagg is predicted to make an almost instant impact on the Mavs.
Photo by Harry How/Getty ImagesWhat Anthony Davis told Cooper Flagg during practice
With the NBA Training Camp kicking off, Mavs stars finally got the chance to share the court with Flagg. The rookie has already impressed Thompson.
Following that, Davis also shared his honest opinion of Flagg following a practice session.
“He can block shots, he can jump, he can rebound, he can defend one through five. But I told him in practice today, we’re doing a drill, and you know, he was hesitant about kicking the guy out.
“And I said, ‘You’re very great defensively, where you have the ability to grab him and throw him and tell him to get to his position,’” Davis told the media.
The 2020 NBA champion added: “And we gotta be able to do that, not just because he’s a rookie, but because we want to win. He has the talent to do so.
“He can cover a lot of ground force guys to get beat. He can cover up for us.”
Flagg’s defensive abilities are a key reason behind the rookie being among the three most exciting players on the Mavericks. And with Davis as his mentor, Flagg will only get better as the season progresses.
Anthony Davis says Cooper Flagg will have to guard Jimmy Butler and Kevin Durant
Over the years, Davis has earned a reputation as an elite defender. Thus, AD often defends the best player on the opposing team.
However, Davis now wants to pass this responsibility to Flagg, as the rookie will be expected to guard the likes of Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler.
“Man, he has a lot of talent on both ends of the floor, but defensively, he’s going to shine. We’re going to put him in situations where you have to guard maybe the best wing, to have to guard Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler or these guys.
“We have enough confidence in him to go out, send him out there and be able to guard those guys,” Davis concluded.
Can Flagg really defend some of the top wings in the NBA in his debut season? Only time will tell.