Cooper Flagg's 3-point shot isn't his biggest key to superstardom

Cooper Flagg's need for improvement as a 3-point shooter has been one of the biggest talking points about his game heading into his second season for the Dallas Mavericks. Flagg shot 29.5 percent from three as a rookie, and this isn't good enough if he wants to make an All-NBA jump.

Cooper Flagg needs to improve as a mid-range scorer

Coop has worked hard on improving his 3-point shooting this offseason, but his mid-range jumper is his real key to becoming a superstar. Flagg's mid-range game was solid as a rookie, as he looked more and more comfortable shooting mid-range jump shots off the dribble as every game passed last season.

His big scoring games often included plenty of mid-range scoring, and he seems closer to being a dominant mid-range scorer than he is a knockdown 3-point shooter. Improving from long range would make Flagg harder to guard, but him adding a go-to mid-range jumper would make him much harder to scheme against since he can create these shots off the dribble himself.

How Flagg's mid-range game can complement his finishing

The staple of Flagg's offensive game is his finishing around the rim. He finishes strong with both hands and has a nice floater, and the next step in his offensive development is continuing to hunt shots from the mid-range.

The former Duke Blue Devil has shown that he can get to his spots, and his high release point on his shot makes it difficult for defenders to block. He often uses a spin move upon getting to the paint to get to his fadeaway jumper, and mastering this shot will make his offensive game much more complete.

This is something he needs to continue to work on if he wants to be a superstar, as he could make defenders pay that take away his driving lanes.

Why Flagg's mid-range jumper could unlock his superstar potential

Flagg said he has been working on his shot creation ahead of his second season, and this will directly help him become a better mid-range shooter. Almost all of Flagg's looks from the mid-range will likely come off the dribble, as he is poised to be a focal point of Dallas' offense once again.

Having a go-to mid-range shot is important for star wings. Just look at the best wings in the league. Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, Kawhi Leonard, and Jayson Tatum can all get to their mid-range jumper whenever they want, and they're all good shot creators.

Flagg needs to continue to improve as a shot creator and a mid-range shooter, and this will become even more true once he doesn't have a star guard to play alongside.

Kyrie Irving and Flagg are poised to form a strong on-court duo, but they aren't going to play together forever. Flagg is 15 years younger than Irving, and there's a chance that Dallas moves on from Kai at the trade deadline.

This would put even more pressure on Flagg's shoulders for his mid-range shot to improve, and his rookie year showed that he's at least willing to shoot these shots.

Continuing to get more comfortable with the ball in his hands will be crucial for his growth as a mid-range shooter, and this could be one of the biggest keys to his superstar leap. Improving as a 3-point shooter is important as well, as that would force opponents to defend him more tightly on the perimeter, but being able to consistently create his own shot from the mid-range is just as important for the young forward.

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