“He’s gonna have a big impact”: Jason Kidd delivers rousing breakdown of Cooper Flagg's fit with Mavs on NBA Draft night
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd talked to NBA TV’s Jared Greenberg about Cooper Flagg, who the team is expected to draft on Wednesday. The Mavericks won the draft lottery in mid-May to get the first chance to grab the former Duke superstar. After a spectacular one-year campaign with the Blue Devils, the projected No. 1 pick could be on Kidd's roster in a few hours.
Although Kidd was coy about who the Mavs would draft, he had this to say about potentially getting the versatile forward.
“As the coach, I believe he’s gonna have a big impact. I know we talked about three future Hall of Famers, but when you talk about a young player coming into our league, you couldn’t ask for a better situation. … When you talk about AD [Davis], Kai [Irving] and Klay [Thompson], you have great mentors.”
Jason Kidd was spot on. Anthony Davis, the No. 1 pick in 2012 and Kyrie Irving, drafted first in 2011, could mentor a player entering the league with heavy expectations. Klay Thompson, a four-time champ, is another veteran with the resume to serve as Flagg's guide on the team.
Cooper Flagg's arrival would not just benefit the Mavericks. Kidd's roster gets a boost from a player scouts called one of the best one-and-done players in Duke history. With Irving recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, Kidd expects the forward to have an immediate impact.
Jason Kidd will guide the Mavericks post Luka Doncic era
The Dallas Mavericks shocked the basketball world when they traded fan favorite Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers in February. Without the Slovenian, Mavs home games became a platform for fans to vent their frustrations.
The post-Doncic era got off to a rough start until the Mavericks won the NBA draft lottery for the first time in team history. While Doncic settled in Hollywood, Harrison got the chance to reboot the roster with the No. 1 pick.
Jason Kidd, who was reportedly on the New York Knicks' radar to replace Tom Thibodeau, remained in Dallas. The Hall of Famer will again patrol the sidelines as the Mavericks start their first season since 2018 without Luka Doncic.