The Dallas Mavericks have a bright future led by their prized rookie, Cooper Flagg. He has all the potential in the world, but Shaquille O’Neal wants to pump the brakes a bit.
The NBA has seen many top prospects shine in their first year. Victor Wembanyama was the best example of this in recent history. Like Wembanyama, Cooper Flagg has received a similar amount of hype. The excitement is through the roof for the new Dallas Mavericks star.
Despite all this hype, there is also a chance he could struggle. That could lead to some harsh criticism that might throw him off his game. While everyone knows he could withstand that, Shaquille O’Neal wants people to calm down with all the hype.
He knows Flagg is talented, but some people might be going overboard with their excitement for a rookie. Flagg is still a teenager, so it is natural for him to have slow starts from time to time. The talent should eventually win out, considering he has all the tools to become a star.
As a player who entered the NBA with considerable hype in 1992, O’Neal knows what it’s like to be Flagg. They were both fantastic prospects coming out of college. Now, Flagg is a franchise cornerstone under heavy pressure.
The pressure to perform is significant, but Flagg has no choice but to keep playing. That is what he has to do as a future star. Thankfully, the Mavericks have the right players around him, as Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving are also star players. With those veterans, he can naturally adjust.
O’Neal knows that the Mavericks organization is good with helping young players shine. They did that with Luka Doncic, and they will do it with Flagg.
“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 to RG Media.
“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.”
It’s not surprising that Flagg was the number one overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He cemented his place even before he went to Duke as the most promising prospect. Flagg has all the defensive tools to become a star while being a versatile offensive player.
Coach Jason Kidd even plans to give him reps as a ball-handler. That could make him a dangerous player in the league as he could score, defend, and be a playmaker. He can develop into that, but he likely won’t be that good in his first year.
With Davis and Irving as his teammates, he could take a backseat for a bit. However, he will take the baton and run with it in the long run. That is what the Mavericks have planned, and they are right to do so. Easing him into a superstar role is the best approach, which could help him adjust to the league.
