DALLAS — Early in the 2025-26 season, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd surprised many by playing 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg at the point guard position. The results were far from ideal, as Flagg — who had primarily played forward previously — did not look especially comfortable at point guard.

Cooper Flagg’s recent rise in play and two-way impact have vaulted the Mavericks rookie into the lead for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year race.

Cooper Flagg was named the NBA’s Western Conference rookie of the month on Tuesday. The Dallas Mavericks forward became the team’s 13th player to win the award and first since Luka Doncic, who won the award five consecutive times in 2018-19.

Flagg went viral for a turn-around fadeaway midrange shot in that game, as the mid-range has been dialed in for him recently. He's more comfortable living in the area of the floor, and once the three-point shot develops, he's going to be a really hard player to guard.

“I’m not saying he is Kobe, but I remember what that relationship looked like,” Thompson said about Flagg comparing him to Bryant. “Now that I’m in that position, I want to show him how much this game means to me, being out there every night.”

The Mavericks contend that Flagg already has become a great player.

The Mavericks don’t want to trade Kyrie Irving, and Cooper Flagg is the reason why. That’s according to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, who reports that Dallas views Irving as essential to developing its rookie forward the right way.

The Dallas Mavericks have turned over a new leaf after landing Cooper Flagg and firing GM Nico Harrison but could still be working to bring back Luka Doncic.