“Can Cooper Flagg’s Shooting Form Be Fixed in Time? Concerns Grow as Mavericks Rookie Faces Early Criticism
Cooper Flagg’s NBA journey is just beginning, but early questions are already being raised about one key part of his game — his shooting. Despite being hailed as a future star and a rare two-way talent, Flagg’s shot mechanics have sparked concern among analysts. As he prepares to take on a brand-new role with the Dallas Mavericks in Summer League, some are wondering if his jumper can improve fast enough to match the high expectations. With the spotlight on him from day one, the pressure to deliver is real.
Cooper Flagg is widely presumed to be a future NBA star, especially given that he’s already in a prime position to thrive alongside some of the biggest names in professional basketball. Typically, teams with the first overall pick don’t have as many Hall of Famers or All-Star-caliber players as the Dallas Mavericks currently do.
Flagg’s first game is less than a week away, as the Mavericks are set to face off against the Lakers in the NBA Summer League. He’s already expected to play a new position — one he never played in college.
“I don’t look at the position. I want to put him at point guard. I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts (to) being able to run the show,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said. “We want to push. And I think he’s going to respond in a positive way. It’s all right to fail. It’s all right to turn the ball over. We’ve talked about that.”
Flagg is considered a two-way player, elite on both ends of the court — some even call him a generational talent.
Flagg is considered a potentially generational type of two-way prospect. He’s been ticketed as a future No. 1 pick for several years due to the seeming likelihood that he becomes an elite player on both sides of the ball,” CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin wrote.
While the hype around Flagg continues to grow, ESPN’s Tim Legler has pointed out some concerns with his shooting mechanics that could hold him back
Alongside Anthony Davis and a rim-running center, you would love to have a three that can be comfortable out to 24 feet or catch and shoots and also get his own out to 24 feet off the dribble,” Legler said in reference to Flagg’s fit within the starting unit. “Right now, he’s got, I think some mechanical issues that he’s gotta iron out to get to that level.”
Flagg’s game will continue to evolve in the NBA, just as it did in college. However, in his rookie year, he may not yet be a consistent threat from beyond the arc.
