Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd had a unique plan for Cooper Flagg at the start of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Heading into the 2025-26 NBA season, the Dallas Mavericks had trouble at the point guard position with Kyrie Irving sidelined due to a torn ACL injury.
Although the Mavericks signed D’Angelo Russell during the offseason to fill his place, head coach Jason Kidd already had other plans.
He filled Irving’s void by playing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg, as the team’s point guard.
Cooper Flagg’s trainer feels playing as a point guard helped his client
In the modern era, fans have seen many players assume the role of a point-forward for their teams. However, it was rare to see a rookie be burdened with that role.
As expected, Flagg struggled to be the Mavs’ primary ball-handler, but his personal trainer, Matt MacKenzie, told Mark Medina of Essentially Sports that it helped the rookie.
“I know there was criticism about him playing in that role. However, I think from a developmental standpoint, it was actually really good for him just because he had to have the ball in his hands.
“He had to handle pressure full court. Now, when you see him with the ball, there is a sense of comfort,” MacKenzie said.
He added: “He can now go through certain possessions and not get rattled and not get sped up. You’re seeing him really dictate the pace.
“I think playing that point guard position for a stretch of games really helped prepare him for that.”
As MacKenzie stated, Flagg indeed struggled to play well at the start of the season, but he has only gotten better as the season has progressed.
Cooper Flagg had to ‘get over adversity,’ says Matt MacKenzie
Right now, Flagg’s 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game make him one of the favorites to win the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year.
However, just a few weeks ago, Flagg found himself heavily criticized for the Mavericks’ poor performance. MacKenzie believes that ‘adversity’ only made his client a better player.
“There were certainly lumps there. He had to get over some adversity,” MacKenzie continued. “But seeing where he is at now and seeing how well he is taking care of the ball and just being able to read the entirety of the floor, I’m not mad at that situation that he had to get through.
He concluded, stating: “I think he would tell you the same thing. Ultimately, it’s going to make him better. The intent of doing that was very good.”
Either way, it’s unlikely that the Mavericks make the postseason this campaign, so, Flagg can take his time to improve his game and come back as an even better player next season.
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