Cooper Flagg kept building his Rookie of the Year case Sunday night, and Mavericks coach Jason Kidd sounded just as impressed as the box score suggested after Dallas beat the depleted Lakers 134-128 at American Airlines Center.
“Obviously another big night for Cooper, 45 points, eight rebounds, nine assists,” Kidd said after Flagg followed up his 51-point game with another 40-plus performance. Dallas also snapped a 14-game home losing streak, its longest in 32 years.
Kidd said the rookie’s scoring surge has come from more than just shot volume. “I thought there’s carry over his ability to get to his spot that he wants to get to and then also being able to get to the free throw line,” Kidd said.
The Mavericks coach also pointed to the tone Dallas set early. “Just the pace, us being able to get some steals, deflections, and getting out and running, I thought the pace was really good there in the first six minutes,” he said.
For Kidd, Flagg is not making one isolated statement as much as sustaining an elite stretch. “Well, when you talk about a closing statement, I don’t know if he’s making a closing statement,” Kidd said. “I think he’s just doing what he’s been doing all season.”
Kidd added that Flagg’s versatility has made him difficult to game-plan for. “Being able to play different positions, being able to be uncomfortable, has never complained and has delivered for us,” he said. “Again, tonight, being able to do it on national television, 40 points is not easy, especially coming off a 50 ball.”
He also stressed the difficulty of the matchups Flagg is facing. “There’s some guys in this league that can play defense at a high level, and when he has to look across each time he’s on the floor, he’s got one of the best defenders,” Kidd said. “For him to be able to deliver, it’s not easy.”
The broader picture, Kidd said, is about Dallas protecting the ball and giving Flagg the right structure. “We’re getting a little bit better of taking care of the ball,” he said. “Tonight’s another example of that.” He also praised the way Brandon Williams and Naji Marshall helped organize the offense while Flagg handled the ball late.
Kidd closed by contrasting the league’s present and future after LeBron James finished with 30 points and 15 assists. “He is showing the world at the age of 41 that he can still play the game at a high level,” Kidd said. “But when you talk about the youth, Cooper is part of that group, and so it’s exciting to see the NBA is in good hands as we go forward.”
