Gilbert Arenas believes Cooper Flagg is in the best possible spot to start his NBA career. The rookie player joined the Dallas Mavericks, and according to Arenas, that environment is the best fit for Flagg with a winning legacy to develop without the crushing pressure most top picks face.
The Dallas Mavericks signed Flagg as their No.1 overall pick. The deal includes a four-year contract with $62.7 million and $28.3 million guaranteed for the first two years. Flagg won’t get the usual rookie leeway, as fans expect him to lead like Larry Bird. Coach Jason Kidd plans to give him many roles and opportunities to make an impact.
“He gets to build and learn with his mistakes without being crucified because the winning is gonna shut everybody down. So, they win 50-something games, nobody’s gonna say anything about him…,” Arenas said. “They will blame AD (if the Mavs turn out to be a bad team). Right now, AD is the Number 1 focal point, so whatever Cooper Flagg adds to it helps AD, but it also helps himself.”
Cooper Flagg is playing with house money on the Mavs 📈 pic.twitter.com/98vGcNKcFE
— Gil’s Arena (@GilsArenaShow) July 5, 2025
If Flagg puts up 20 points and 10 rebounds while the defense focuses on others, Arenas believes he could draw early comparisons to Tim Duncan. At that time, Flagg will become the focal point, and he’ll already have built the confidence of a seasoned star.
Flagg is entering with huge responsibilities and a strong team around him, so he needs to be calm under pressure. If he can maintain his poise, the 18-year-old rookie can thrive and rise from the top prospect to franchise cornerstone.
Draymond Green Thinks Cooper Flagg Made The Right Destination In The 2025 NBA Draft
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Draymond Green added fuel to Arenas’ opinion. Green called Flagg lucky for landing with the Dallas Mavericks as the No.1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft. On his podcast, Green praised the Mavericks’ strong roster and winning culture.
“You ain’t gotta go average 25 points on a bad team or 20 points on a bad team,” Green said. He also pointed out that most top picks go to struggling teams, but Flagg made his journey with a team that made the 2024 Finals.
As veterans like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and coach Jason Kidd are on the roster, Green strongly believes Flagg can grow fast under the proper guidance.
