Don’t expect Cooper Flagg to live up to the billing in the NBA right away. That’s the message Shaquille O’Neal wants to share on the former Duke Blue Devils basketball star, anyway.
While speaking to RG Media, Shaq warned that Flagg may have heightened expectations during his rookie season, but like another Dallas Mavericks legend, Dirk Nowitzki, he may not be close to his peak from the jump.
I’ve been seeing him in the Summer League. I saw highlights; he looked phenomenal. Must realize that he’s an 18-year-old kid, so can’t put too much pressure on him,” O’Neal said.
“From my experience, you get two years before people really start saying it’s time to win. But I think he’s way above that 18-year-old curve.
I’ve been seeing him in the Summer League. I saw highlights; he looked phenomenal. Must realize that he’s an 18-year-old kid, so can’t put too much pressure on him,” O’Neal said.
“From my experience, you get two years before people really start saying it’s time to win. But I think he’s way above that 18-year-old curve.
“Good thing about this organization, the Mavericks, they’re going to treat him well. This fan base is definitely going to treat him well through the ups and downs. Because we celebrate Dirk Nowitzki, but I remember Dirk when he first came in, he was not Dirk.”
Mavs head coach Jason Kidd will be without starting point guard Kyrie Irving for much of, if not all of, the 2025-26 season due to an ACL tear suffered in March. In Irving’s absence, Flagg may be called upon to be a playmaker for the offense.
That development alone could cause Flagg to be thrown into the deep end too soon.
Then again, what is too soon for Flagg, in any context? He’s joining a star-studded roster in Dallas that has enough talent to compete for a postseason spot with or without him.
He can be the savior of an Irving-less lineup, or he can assimilate once the player seen as Dallas’s key piece returns after progressing at a steadier rate than his expectations dictate.
Flagg doesn’t need to be the Mavs’ new Dirk in his rookie season.
Dirk wasn’t even Dirk yet by that point in his career.
