Cooper Flagg is already giving the Mavericks what no other rookie could

Striking gold in the NBA Draft is nearly impossible.

You truly never know who is going to pan out at the next level, and sometimes it can be hard to determine exactly where and how a rookie is going to fit onto your squad on and off the floor.

This doesn't seem like it will be a problem for Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks, though, as Dereck Lively II recently revealed exactly who Flagg is, and Mavs fans are going to love him. After Lively II hosted a basketball camp at the Mavs' practice facility earlier this week, he was asked about Flagg, and his comments about his personality are what make him special and set him apart from other rookies.

Lively II reveals the side of Flagg that Mavericks fans will love

"I’ve probably known him for a couple of years now, at least two or three," Lively II said about Flagg. "He’s always been the same smiling, joking kid. I’m glad he’s been able to stay grounded, not letting the spotlight overwhelm him. Whether he’s in the gym or hanging out at the house, he’s always just being Coop."

From everything that Lively II said, it sounds like Flagg is a humble, fun-loving kid who loves basketball, and that is all Mavericks fans could possibly want from him. Although Lively II and Flagg didn't play together at Duke, they seem to share a strong bond over this connection from both playing there, and if Flagg's personality is anything like Lively II's, he'll be stepping into an organization where he'll fit great.

Lively II is going to do whatever he can to help Flagg grow as a player and person next season, and he already has the exact mindset that he needs to succeed right away.

With Kyrie Irving set to miss a large portion of next season after tearing his ACL in March, Flagg is set to have a significant role right away. Jason Kidd even wants him to handle the ball often to begin the year, and all signs are pointing to the Mavericks doing whatever they can to help turn him into a point forward.

We saw early signs of this at Summer League, and there is a great chance that they continue this plan into the regular season. Flagg's ball handling wasn't perfect in Las Vegas at Summer League, but he continued to get more comfortable as the games went on. His vision as a passer is undeniable, and he is clearly going to be a secondary playmaker to begin the season.

Thanks to Flagg's relentless work ethic, he'll work as hard as he can to polish his game throughout his career, and he could become a monster if his 3-point jumper is falling as a rookie.

On the other end of the floor, Flagg may be elite right away, as he has all of the tools to become the Mavs' lockdown defensive stopper. Flagg, sharing the floor with Anthony Davis and Lively II, is going to terrify opposing teams, and that trio alone is going to be responsible for a ton of blocks.

With Nico Harrison's focus on Mavericks culture, Flagg is going to fit like a glove, and they may have found a player who will fit them perfectly on and off the floor. All eyes are going to be on Flagg and the Mavericks ahead of a pivotal 2025-26 season, and he'll be ready for anything that comes his way.