Jason Kidd's Point Guard Experiment Is 'Disservice' to Cooper Flagg's Impact, Says Former NBA Guard

Former NBA guard Rashad McCants commented on the Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd's experiment of using Cooper Flagg as a point guard.

On Wednesday's "Gil's Arena," Flagg's impact as the Mavericks' primary ballhandler was discussed. Dallas is just 1-3 to start this season. The 2025 No. 1 pick started all of the team's four games at the point. According to McCants, Kidd and Co. don't put Flagg in "scoring positions."

"For me, it's all about how they put him in position," McCants said (Timestamp: 2:18:47). "Like I said, they're doing him a disservice 'cause he can be so much more impactful if they ran different things for him. Taking him off the ball, No. 1, because it's affecting Klay Thompson."

McCants added that the Flagg point guard experiment affects the "effectiveness" of Klay Thompson. The four-time NBA champion has started slow, averaging just 9.0 points per game on 34.2% shooting, including 28.6% from 3-point range.

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"Now you see, they don't have a No. 2," McCants added. "They don't have a solidified No. 2. You bring somebody in like Klay Thompson, you got to know what he does well to keep him at a 15-point clip where they can actually have a chance to win."

McCants suggested that the Mavericks' coaching staff should adapt some of the Golden State Warriors' plays wherein Thompson has been most effective. The 35-year-old star has been regarded as among the greatest shooters of all time.

McCants played for four seasons in the NBA from 2005 until 2009. The Minnesota Timberwolves selected him as the 14th pick of the 2005 NBA draft. The 6-4 guard's professional career was hounded by injuries, and he did not live up to expectations.

Jason Kidd is urged to utilize D'Angelo Russell more

On the same podcast episode of "Gil's Arena" on Wednesday, Rashad McCants said the Dallas Mavericks should use a "real point guard." While acknowledging the upside of Cooper Flagg, McCants said that Jason Kidd should utilize D'Angelo Russell more, saying that he is a natural point guard.

"D-Lo comes into the game... Give it to Cooper, let him run the wing," McCants said (Timestamp: 2:20:35). "Jason Kidd know better. That bench know better. ... Your real point guard is on the bench."

Co-host Brandon Jennings responded to McCants by saying that Dallas' "real point guard is hurt." Nine-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving is currently recovering from an ACL injury and is expected to miss the majority, if not all, of the 2025-26 season.

Many expected that Russell would be Dallas' starting point guard after signing a two-year deal with the team this offseason. However, Kidd has elected to let Flagg run the show. The Mavericks next face the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

Edited by Kim Daniel Rubinos