Cooper Flagg's harsh admission exposes a crucial problem the Mavericks must fix fast

Throughout his rookie year, Cooper Flagg made it clear that he hated losing with a passion. The Dallas Mavericks dropped 56 games this season, their second-lowest mark of the 21st century, and this isn't something that Flagg was okay with as he kicks off his professional career.

Dallas has to start winning soon for Cooper Flagg's sanity

After one of the team's final games of the regular season, a reporter asked Flagg what he would remember most about his first season in the NBA, and he didn't hold back.

"I think the losing," Flagg said. "It’s a terrible feeling. It’s not fun to lose so many games, so I just think taking that and using that as motivation all summer long and getting ready for another season."

Dallas has to get back on track quickly to keep their 19-year-old superstar happy, as losing can't become the norm for this new Flagg-centered squad. The Mavericks lost more this season than Flagg had in his entire life before getting drafted, and this can't continue.

He was excited to get drafted to a team that was already in a position to contend, but their season quickly went downhill. Anthony Davis' injuries set the Mavericks back significantly, and they ultimately decided to move on from him at the trade deadline and rebuild for the future.

How the Mavericks' season unraveled so quickly

Trading Davis for expiring contracts and draft capital just one year after giving up Luka Doncic to bring him in shows how poorly his time with the team went, and Dallas' vision for the season quickly changed.

Their goal changed from pushing for the playoffs to improving their lottery odds, and their decision to shut down Kyrie Irving for the season reflected that. The Mavericks went from expecting a core of Davis, Flagg, and Irving to be ready to play together before the playoffs to Flagg being the only player healthy, and losses began to pile up.

They lost 30 of their final 37 games, and even tanked at the end of the season. This was far from what Flagg expected after the Mavericks drafted him first overall, and all this losing was hard on him.

Any time that Flagg was asked about losing during press conferences, he made it clear that he despised it. Winning was always his No. 1 goal, regardless of how well he played in the game, and he made this overwhelmingly clear at the end of the year.

Flagg's future in Dallas depends on one thing

Flagg is ready for the Mavericks to get back in the win column, and he is going to use Dallas' poor season as motivation to work as hard as he can this summer. They have the roster to turn things around and make a push for the playoffs, but if Dallas struggles for the next few seasons, Flagg isn't going to be happy.

He has already made it clear that he loves playing for the Mavericks, but they have to give him his biggest wish, to win, by putting the right team around him. If they don't, some uncomfortable conversations may be had.

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