Brandon Williams had little hesitation when asked about Cooper Flagg’s historic night after the Dallas Mavericks’ 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic on Friday at American Airlines Center. “It’s a no-brainer,” Williams said of the Rookie of the Year race, adding, “Tonight only proved it again.”
Williams said Flagg’s scoring outburst came from patience, assertiveness and the way teammates kept finding him in the right spots. “He’s demanding it too,” Williams said, before adding that the rookie “was more assertive” and “just turned on the break” late in the game.
The Mavericks guard said Flagg’s ability to keep attacking has become part of his growth. “He turns down a lot of them, but shooting the three is only going to open his game a lot more,” Williams said. “He’s a teenager doing this. It’s just amazing.”
Williams also credited the rookie’s mentality and work ethic, saying the performance was no accident. “For his maturity, he’s relentless out there,” he said. “He knows where to shoot the ball. He knows where to get the ball.”
Asked how he and the other guards are helping Flagg, Williams pointed to communication and spacing. “Just seeing where he likes it, see where he wants the ball,” he said. “That’s the biggest part, and Khris Middleton did a good job of trying to coach him.”
Williams said the team’s best offensive possessions came when the floor was spread and Dallas could attack downhill. “Open paint, my teammates being spaced out, causing me to get in the lane,” he said. “Orlando’s a smart team, so they’re kind of staying home with them, and I need to get downhill and make plays not only for myself, but for everybody as well.”
He also spoke about the Mavericks’ response after the ejections of Jason Kidd and Naji Marshall, saying the group understands what is at stake even in a lost season. “We’re a family and we have to protect one another,” Williams said. “We’re a relatively young team, so just making sure this isn’t the norm.”
Dallas fell to 24-53, but Williams said the effort around Flagg’s performance still carried a message. “We’re still competing regardless of what our record says,” he said. “We’re going to come out here and give it our best effort.”
