Mark Cuban backs Cooper Flagg as 'Real Deal' Amid Mavericks Rookie Catching Heat for Rough Opening Stretch

Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban came to the defense of Cooper Flagg anew. The 2025 No. 1 pick has drawn criticism amid his slow start this season.

On Monday, Mavericks reporter Nick Angstadt shared a graphic by "Locked On Mavs" that showed the production of several NBA stars when they were 18 years old. Flagg ranked second behind LA Lakers star LeBron James in points and assists through six career games.

Cuban, the former longtime majority owner of the Mavericks, shared the tweet and wrote:

"No question. (Cooper Flagg) is the real deal."

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Through six games, Flagg is averaging 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists on 37.3% shooting, including 28.6% from 3-point range. While Flagg has shown flashes of his potential, his inconsistency and shooting woes have fueled the frustrations of Dallas fans, who are still reeling from the loss of Luka Doncic.

With one-time NBA champion Kyrie Irving recovering from an ACL injury, the Mavericks have elected to start and play the 6-foot-9 at point guard. His low production could be attributed to the former Duke Blue Devils star adjusting to playing out of his usual position.

Cooper Flagg comments on criticisms about his early-season struggles: "It's a transition"

Following the Dallas Mavericks' 108-92 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday in Mexico City, Cooper Flagg was asked if he had a message for those who have been criticizing his young NBA career.

"It's a tough league," Flagg said. "It's a transition. Obviously, I haven't made a lot of shots or been as efficient as I would've wanted to. But I'm gonna keep trusting the work. It's nothing I think they should be worried about. I'm not worried about anything. "Just gotta keep getting better looks, keep being aggressive and just trust all the work. I think it'll be fine."

Dallas has built a roster capable of contending for championships now, with veteran stars Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson. They are among the few teams that aim to compete in the present while already being equipped for the foreseeable future.

Mark Cuban previously said that Cooper Flagg will help usher in a new era in Dallas and believes that he will be the franchise cornerstone in the future.

The Mavericks are 2-4 and are sitting near the bottom of the standings in a loaded Western Conference. Dallas next faces division rivals, the Houston Rockets, on Monday.

Edited by Kim Daniel Rubinos