Cooper Flagg says Kyrie Irving helped him stay positive

Mar 17, 2026 12:16 PM

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving remains sidelined for the season as he recovers from a torn ACL, but he has still made an impact by supporting rookie forward Cooper Flagg off the court.

In an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews (YouTube link), Flagg spoke about how Irving has helped guide him through the challenges of his first NBA season.

“[Irving] was that top pick and was kind of thrown into the fire. He stepped in as a great vet for me and was there kind of giving me guidance,” the rookie forward said of Irving (hat tip to The Dallas Morning News).

Flagg added that adjusting to losing at the NBA level has been difficult at times, but Irving’s advice and encouragement have helped him stay focused and confident.

“There was definitely times where I was shaken up. I never lost that much in my life. Just to hear him say that and tell me that I’m doing everything I need to be doing, just to stay with it and stay positive, it definitely helped me out a lot.”