Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki knows what it takes to become a superstar, and he believes 18-year-old rookie Cooper Flagg is already on the right path.
“I mean, the hype was real for sure. I’m not the biggest college sports watcher in general, whether that’s basketball or any sport, but of course I had to check out Cooper and yeah, I mean, the sky’s the limit,” Nowitzki said, via the Mavericks. “Honestly, what I saw, just the way he reads the game already at that age of being barely 18… Athletic, skills, I heard his work ethic is through the roof. So everything that I’ve saw and heard is that, you know, he’s the real deal. The real deal.”
Flagg impressed during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where his versatility, scoring touch, and defensive instincts stood out. For Dallas, his arrival couldn’t come at a better time. After a turbulent 2024-25 season that featured the shocking Luka Doncic trade and a roster hampered by injuries, Flagg represents hope for a fanbase that badly needed it.
When a franchise icon with a statue outside the arena makes such a bold proclamation, it carries weight.
“Mavs fans can obviously be very excited for his growth over the next few years,” Nowitzki continued. “But yeah, like I said, the sky’s the limit. Just the way he can score the ball in multiple ways. He can defend multiple players… I think he’s super versatile already at a super young age, which is rare. Looking forward to his rookie year and see how he can adjust to the NBA. But yeah, like I said, everything goes well and he keeps working, I think the sky’s the limit.”
With Nowitzki’s stamp of approval, anticipation around Flagg’s rookie season has reached another level. If the teenager lives up to the praise, Dallas may have landed its next cornerstone superstar.
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