Last season, Cooper Flagg put together a strong rookie campaign for the Dallas Mavericks. Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists and won Rookie of the Year. Kyrie Irving’s return gives the Mavericks another offensive weapon and makes it harder for defenses to send extra help toward Flagg, giving the rookie more one-on-one opportunities to attack.
In the 2024-25 season, Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting 47.3% from the field and 40.1% from three in 50 games. Irving’s shooting and ball-handling ability make it difficult for defenses to consistently send help toward Flagg without giving Irving chances to attack.
The Mavericks went 26-56 last season, with rookie Flagg by far their best player. This season, they look to get their players back from injury and become a competitive team again. Irving will help with that by giving Dallas another elite offensive option and elevating this Mavericks team to another level. Flagg will finally have a player who can take some of the pressure off him and someone who’s known for his stone-cold clutch shooting.
Last season, without Irving, teams were double-teaming and even triple-teaming Flagg, yet he was still able to put up huge scoring performances. With Irving on the court, defenses won’t be able to load up on him nearly as easily. That could create more open looks for PJ Washington, rookie Morez Johnson Jr., and Dallas’ other shooters.
The Mavericks went 26-56 last season, with rookie Flagg emerging as their go-to option offensively. Irving’s return gives the Mavs a proven scorer who can create his own shot and take some of the offensive responsibility off Flagg. For a team coming off a 26-win season, having both Flagg and Irving in the lineup could give the Mavericks a more dynamic and efficient offensive attack.
Defenses can no longer load up on Flagg and send multiple defenders at him every possession. The Mavericks often relied on him as a rookie to create offense. When Flagg is drawing multiple defenders, Irving will be able to attack the rotation with his shooting and ball handling. This could also create opportunities for the supporting cast of the Mavericks.
The outside expectations for the Mavs this season are relatively modest after they finished with a record of 26-56 last season. Sports Illustrated currently projects them with 36 wins near the bottom of the Western Conference. That projection puts added importance on the Irving-Flagg pairing, as Dallas will need both players to maximize their offensive impact if the Mavericks hope to outperform that win total and compete for a play-in spot. If Irving can return at a high level and Flagg builds on his rookie season, Dallas could have a chance to outperform that projection.
Derek Lively and Daniel Gafford are valuable pieces for what the Mavericks are trying to do. Both are athletic bigs who can protect the rim and serve as lob threats, giving Irving and Flagg reliable options around the basket. Lively shot 70.2% from the field and 79.8% from 0-3 feet in 2024-25, while Gafford shot 65.5% from the field and converted 66.1% of his attempts from 0-3 feet last season. Their ability to finish above the rim can also complement the perimeter play of the Mavs by making defenses have to worry about another area on the floor.
Naji Marshall, Max Christie and rookie Morez Johnson Jr. provide much-needed support for Flagg and Irving. Marshall averaged 15.2 points per game while shooting 51% from the field last season, giving the Mavericks another player capable of creating his own offense. Christie provides valuable perimeter shooting after knocking down 40.4% of his three-point attempts on 5.8 attempts per game. Johnson gives Dallas another athletic frontcourt option, bringing rebounding, physicality, and finishing ability after averaging 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds at Michigan last season. If those players can consistently knock down open shots, finish plays and defend at a high level, Dallas will be better positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that Flagg and Irving create.
The depth of this roster may be its biggest issue, and the starters could have to carry a heavy workload. Irving-Flagg pairing does not automatically solve the Mavericks’ offensive problems, especially after Dallas ranked 27th in the NBA with 111.2 offensive rating last season. Beyond the two stars, this team still needs consistent scoring and shooting. Irving’s availability is another concern after he has dealt with injuries through recent years. Irving and Flagg will create opportunities for the other players, but it is up to the others to knock down shots and take advantage of good situations.
Flagg could take another step offensively in his second season after showing significant growth as a rookie. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while shooting 46.8% from the field and 29.5% from three during his rookie season. After the All-Star break, he increased his production to 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, although his shooting fell to 44.1% from the field and 27.8% from three. Having another established scorer in Irving should give Flagg more opportunities to attack defenses without having to carry the offensive burden on every possession.
Irving’s shooting ability creates a different problem than Flagg’s size and playmaking. With Irving as the primary ball handler, Dallas can use Flagg as a screener, allowing Irving to attack the defense and worry about him pulling up or blowing by for the layup. If the defense plays too high, Flagg can roll for an easy layup with his size.
Jason Kidd previously highlighted the potential fit between the two, saying Irving would be a “perfect fit” with Flagg because of his ability to create space, while Flagg can create space for Irving. If they play off of Flagg, he can still knock down the three. Then if they choose to go under the screen, Irving can pull up for a three or a deep midrange. Flagg is also able to operate as the ball handler, forcing the defense to decide on whether to stay attached to Kyrie or help on Flagg’s drive. This will create open looks for the role players of Dallas.
Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg have the potential to give the Mavericks a much more versatile offensive attack, but their success will depend on how well Dallas builds around them. The biggest question is whether Dallas’ supporting players can consistently convert the open looks and scoring opportunities created by its two primary offensive weapons. If they can, the Irving and Flagg pairing could give the Mavericks a significantly more difficult offense to defend than the one Flagg was asked to lead last season.
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