Nowitzki mentors Flagg as Mavericks prepare Irving-Flagg tandem for 2026-27
Dallas legend shares insights on rookie star's work ethic while team eyes chemistry between returning Irving and reigning Rookie of the Year.
What to know
- Cooper Flagg won 2025-26 Rookie of the Year after posting 21 PPG; Dirk Nowitzki has taken an active mentoring role as the star enters his sophomore year.
- Kyrie Irving, returning from a 2024-25 ACL injury, is set to pair with Flagg as Dallas's offensive centerpiece under new coach Dusty May.
- Irving and Flagg spent the offseason working together; insiders and coaches express strong optimism about their on-court chemistry despite limited time on court.
- Flagg's trainer cautioned against LeBron James comparisons, saying the rookie has the tools to be great but needs continued development after just one season.
“The Sky Is the Limit — Mavericks Legend Dirk Nowitzki Details How Cooper Flagg Can Follow In His Footsteps”
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks legend · Yahoo Sports ↗
Cooper Flagg Mavericks rookie forward, 2025 No. 1 pick
Kyrie Irving Mavericks veteran guard
Dirk Nowitzki Mavericks Hall of Famer, mentor
Dusty May Mavericks head coachMatt MacKenzie Flagg's trainer
How it unfolded 4 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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4
NBA Scout assesses Irving's impact on Flagg's second season
An anonymous NBA scout told Sports Illustrated that Irving's return from injury will make things significantly easier for Flagg in his sophomore year as the two are expected to complement each other on the court.
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first by Sports Illustrated, 3d ago
1 more headline
- How NBA Scout Envisions Kyrie Irving Helping Cooper Flagg on Mavericks Sports Illustrated · 2d ago
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People always float trades and ignore the money part of it, when that’s arguably the most important aspect. Kyrie makes $39M. If a team can’t come up with that without hurting the roster, it’s not happening. Seen people say Philly (not possible unless it’s for Maxey which why would you do that) or Miami (not possible unless it’s Wiggins and like…
2 more of the top 3 · 11 posts in this stretch
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Quickley + Barrett for Kyrie + Gafford? I really don't want to move RJ but I think this works for both teams. It gives Toronto both center and PG depth (Poeltl/Gafford and Irving/Shead). It gives Dallas a decent starting lineup (IQ, RJ, Flagg, Lively and I guess Aldama/Washington or Risacher at the 4). And because RJ is a large expiring, I don't…
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Isn't that pretty much y'alls sentiment in general? Keep him? No teammates seem to have accused him of being a locker room distraction. In fact it's the other way around. I mean, the New York vaccination shit was a crazy time for everyone. And people can say what they will about that, but he seems to be a great teammate.
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- 1 day quiet
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Flagg and Irving share court in West Coast practice
Flagg and Irving participate together in practice as the Mavericks prepare for the upcoming 2026-27 season with new head coach Dusty May, developing on-court chemistry ahead of their full-season partnership.
“He's a workaholic…”
— Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks legend · source -
1 outlet first by Yahoo Sports, 5d ago · read ↗
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Dirk Nowitzki becomes mentor figure to Flagg
Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki commended Flagg on his rookie season and shared analysis on his work ethic and future potential, revealing constant communication between the two as Nowitzki provides guidance for Flagg's development.
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first by Sports Illustrated, 3d ago
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first by Yahoo Sports, 4d ago
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- 1 day quiet
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1
Flagg's trainer tempers LeBron James comparisons
Matt MacKenzie, Flagg's longtime trainer, acknowledged the rookie has the tools to be one of the greats but emphasized he has a long way to go and needs to continue working to build a resume like James'.
“Cooper has a long way to go in terms of building the résumé that LeBron has throughout his long career. But he definitely has a lot of those tools to be one of the greats.”
— Matt MacKenzie -
2 outlets first by Yahoo Sports, 7d ago · also Sports Illustrated · read ↗
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background
Flagg and Irving spend offseason working out together — Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg had opportunity to work out together this offseason, with insiders noting their high basketball IQ complemented each other well and Irving expressed respect for Flagg's game.
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background
Michael Porter Jr. praises Kyrie Irving's post-injury workouts — Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. reported on his podcast that Irving, recovering from his ACL injury, was moving impressively in offseason workouts three weeks prior.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
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first by Yahoo Sports, 4d ago
1 more headline
and 9 smaller pieces
What people are saying 8 voices from 1 site · best of 11 · verbatim
- Yesterday
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I feel like they won't trade him for nothing, but if you offer 2 firsts and a good young player, they would listen.
- Sep 22
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I'm genuinely curious as to which contender can even afford him atp? I'm not well versed in what sort of cap situations different teams are so can someone please enlighten me? Genuinely asking.
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Not sure why people are saying heat since it’s impossible for them to get him. Raptors or Rockets would be good fits and have the assets
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Didn't make sense to trade FVV when they intended to keep him, only for the rockets to throw the 40 mil a year bag at him to pry him away
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Do they have the salary to match? Jovic + Mitchell doesn't get you there I don't think. Jovic + Portis does but I think the Heat need Portis as their 3rd big lol
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Then again plenty of players don't believe magic exist yet play for Orlando. Checkmate Raptors.
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Brown’s trade value across the league is horrible there’s a reason they got him for pg
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Man, thinking about that Finals team is like thinking about the ex you thought you were gonna marry.