Cooper Flagg's improved playmaking raises the Mavericks' offensive ceiling

The Dallas Mavericks handed the Oklahoma City Thunder, the NBA's best team over the past three years, their first loss of the season in a 24-point drubbing. Cooper Flagg was the star of the show, dropping 26 points, but his playmaking was arguably his most significant contribution. Flagg recorded eight assists to zero turnovers, putting his improved playmaking on full display.

The 19-year-old wing has now recorded back-to-back games with 11 and eight assists, but the latter contest against the Thunder was far more impressive, especially after Flagg coughed it up five times against the Miami Heat. The box score shows his improved feel, but there's more to it than that. His growth and continued comfort as a playmaker significantly raise the Mavericks' offensive ceiling.

Dallas' lack of playmakers put more pressure on Cooper Flagg

Dallas entered the season with only one player who had averaged more than 4.5 assists per game: Kyrie Irving. And even beyond Irving, the squad's playmaking felt light.

The Mavericks brought in Marcus Sasser from the Detroit Pistons, drafted Sergio De Larrea with the 25th pick, and signed former first-rounder Walter Clayton Jr. to a two-way contract days before the regular season. But that was it. One of the league's least pass-happy teams essentially ran it back with a similar roster devoid of playmakers.

Of course, the reigning Rookie of the Year is also burdened with the primary scoring load as a 19-year-old, so it's not like he's necessarily expected to pace the team in assists. At least, that's what we assumed.

Nonetheless, here we are. Flagg is averaging 6.8 assists per game, and his growth as a facilitator is wildly evident. It's not that he's even making otherworldly passes or picking apart defenses with an advanced handle. He's making the right reads, showing patience, and forcing defenders to react.

Cooper Flagg is emerging as a legitimate offensive initiator

Several of his assists came on swing passes to open shooters or passes that exploited mismatches in the post. Not necessarily preternatural, but the right reads. Moreover, his patience was on display, which goes hand in hand with his comfort as a playmaker.

Despite being a 19-year-old forward, Flagg doesn't look rushed in transition. He's beginning to exemplify those jumbo-playmaker traits that have taken the league by storm.

One of his better plays of the night came in the fourth quarter, when he grabbed a rebound off a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander miss and dribbled up the floor without ever looking rushed. He then probed the lane, forcing all five Thunder defenders to commit to his rim attack before dishing out a no-look pass to Caleb Martin in the opposite corner, who drilled an open 3-pointer.

This specific play showed his improved feel and patience with the ball in his hands. Two more examples of his advanced feel came on assists to Morez Johnson Jr. and Daniel Gafford. Both times, he turned the corner and got into the paint before throwing passes over the top of the help defender instead of settling for a contested push shot or layup. The result was an easy layup for Johnson and an emphatic one-handed jam for Gafford.

With Flagg demonstrating these well-rounded improvements and limiting his turnovers by slowing down and letting the game come to him, Dallas' offensive ceiling has risen significantly. Playmaking isn't a byproduct of Flagg's downhill attacking playstyle; it's turning into the primary function of his game. Rather than forcing the issue or trying to manufacture the right play, he's learning to slow down, read the defense, and let the game dictate his decisions.

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