From the moment they won the NBA Draft Lottery and secured the first overall pick, the Dallas Mavericks had their sights set on Cooper Flagg. The former Duke star was the obvious choice for any NBA team, and the Texas franchise was no exception. In the 2025 Draft, they selected the 18-year-old, adding him to a roster already stacked with top-tier talent.
The first question surrounding Flagg is what position he’ll play on the court—not just based on his own strengths and versatility, but also on the team’s needs, head coach Jason Kidd’s options, and the chemistry he can develop with his new teammates.
Given the current makeup of the Mavericks roster, Flagg is most likely to take over the small forward spot. Klay Thompson filled the No. 3 role during the first part of last season when Luka Doncic was still with the franchise and Kyrie Irving was healthy, but later shifted to more of a guard role. PJ Washington and Naji Marshall were also used in that position.
The Mavericks’ potential starting five with Flagg
In an ideal scenario where Dallas has all its players healthy, Kyrie Irving is a lock at point guard. His elite skill set, ball-handling, and shooting make him a vital piece of the team, and he remains one of the NBA’s premier stars.
Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks
Klay Thompson will likely start at shooting guard. The Mavericks are hopeful that in his second year with the team, he’ll rediscover the form he showcased during his prime years with the Golden State Warriors. As noted earlier, Cooper Flagg seems positioned to slot in at small forward.
see also
Cooper Flagg’s profile: Age, height, family, career highlights, college team and more
The power forward role unquestionably belongs to Anthony Davis. Now fully recovered from the injury he suffered shortly after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, AD brings everything needed to become a cornerstone of this Dallas squad. Finally, the center position will likely be contested between Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford.
Dallas’ plan for Flagg while Irving is out
That ideal starting five promises plenty of excitement for Dallas Mavericks fans. However, it won’t be fully intact at the start of the season, as Kyrie Irving is still recovering from knee surgery and isn’t expected back until early 2026.
With that in mind, coach Jason Kidd could give the rookie a unique role on the team. “Cooper Flagg is really gonna have a chance, especially early in the season when Kyrie Irving’s out, to play a point forward type of game,” said NBA insider Tim MacMahon on ESPN recently. “He’s gonna have the ball in his hands a lot, and J-Kidd thinks he can facilitate.”
Flagg’s stats at Duke
Cooper Flagg became the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft largely due to the enormous potential he showed during his brief time with the Duke Blue Devils. The 18-year-old forward played 37 games during the 2024–25 season, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game.
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