Cooper Flagg's biggest step toward superstardom starts at the free-throw line

One of the biggest stories surrounding the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the 2026-27 season was Cooper Flagg's looming superstar leap. He finished the 2025-26 season strong, winning Rookie of the Year and stringing together some monstrous performances at the end of the year, and Mavs fans couldn't wait to see him take the next step in his development.

Players' second seasons are often when they make massive improvements to their game, and it didn't take Coop long to show how much better he got in the summer. He finished with 32 points, five rebounds, two assists, three steals, and one block against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. While his shot creation and scoring off the dribble were impressive, the biggest sign that his superstar leap is alive and well was his free-throw volume.

Flagg continuing to improve as a 3-point shooter will also be crucial for him to become a superstar, but not as much as getting to the free-throw line more often. Coop was dominant as a rookie despite receiving an unfavorable whistle and shooting under 30 percent from three, and dramatically increasing his free-throw volume could cause his scoring numbers to skyrocket.

It will help him impose his will on the game more than he already does, and if he can get defenders in early foul trouble, they'll be forced to guard him much differently.

Flagg's surge in free-throw attempts could unlock his superstar leap

Many of the league's best players have become experts at getting to the free-throw line, and Flagg looks ready to get to the charity stripe early and often after a rookie season that included him not getting as many foul calls as he should and shooting just 4.9 free throws per game.

Drawing fouls is an art, and Coop's aggressive and physical playstyle will force the referees to call fouls. He looks much stronger when going against contact, and he isn't moved as easily as he was last season.

Flagg went 11-for-13 from the free-throw line on opening night, and he showed clear growth when drawing fouls and absorbing contact. He shot 13 or more free throws just three times as a rookie, and Cooper getting to the free-throw line often is something that Mavs fans should be excited about.

This will help him generate more points even when his jump shot isn't falling, and his offensive game continues to look more complete.

Flagg is drawing fouls differently compared to his rookie year

Flagg was a relentless slasher as a rookie, but this didn't always result in him getting to the free-throw line. Part of this could be blamed on Coop getting the rookie whistle from referees, but he clearly has a better understanding of how to draw more fouls and how to use his body to his advantage.

Flagg put on some upper-body strength this offseason, and this was evident against Houston. He wasn't as fazed when defenders initiated contact with him, and rather than losing the ball or falling to the floor, Flagg fought through the contact to finish around the basket. His body control looked excellent.

His focus on becoming a better creator during the offseason paid off, as he looked extremely comfortable shooting mid-range jumpers off the bounce, consequently forcing defenders to close out on him harder. This will help him draw more fouls from defenders trying harder to contest his shot while also giving him more driving lanes to the rim when players overcommit to stopping his jump shot.

More free throws per game will naturally lead to more scoring, putting Flagg in a great position to increase his scoring numbers and take more control of the game. He looks like a more complete player every time he steps onto the court, and his new knack for getting to the free-throw line will make him hard to stop in year two.

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