P.J. Washington had a front-row seat to Cooper Flagg’s latest statement game, and he did not leave much room for debate. After Flagg scored 45 points in the Mavericks’ 134-128 win over the Lakers, Washington said, “He shows it each and every night.”
Washington said Flagg’s impact goes far beyond scoring. “Just his ability to do everything on the floor. He draws so much attention, but it’s nothing to him. I mean, He makes shots at all three levels. He can facilitate the ball. He can rebound. He can play defense. He’s a jack of all trades, and obviously he’s 19 doing what he’s doing. It’s unheard of. So obviously, in my opinion, he’s clear-cut.”
The veteran forward said Flagg has not hit the wall that usually comes for rookies this late in the season. “Just how much better he’s getting each and every game. I mean, there is no drop-off. There is no – He didn’t hit a rookie wall. It was just all just getting better each and every aspect of the game,” Washington said.
Washington also pointed to Flagg’s two-way workload as the separator. “It’s the ability to be a dominant on both ends of the floor. Obviously, he’s 19. I remember I was 19. I couldn’t imagine doing half the things he’s out here doing,” he said.
The matchup also offered a contrast between eras, with 41-year-old LeBron James leading the Lakers and Flagg starring for Dallas. Washington called it “crazy,” adding, “Obviously LeBron being 41 doing what he’s doing, and obviously Coop’s only 19 doing what he’s doing.”
Dallas ended a 14-game home losing streak behind Flagg’s 45 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, while Washington added 15 points and helped the Mavericks improve their late-season rhythm. He said the team’s offensive flow came from structure: “I think for us it’s just being able to get stops and playing in transition.”
Washington said the Mavericks’ spacing and decision-making made the difference. “We passed the ball. We got good shots. We hit shots. So, I mean, the ball was coming, and I just felt like everybody had a great game, and we just played together.”
He also kept the focus on the bigger picture in Dallas, where injuries have shaped much of the season. “Obviously, we get a good pick. Obviously, we get Kyrie back. We get Derek back. Start to build a really great team,” Washington said. “The future is bright.”
