Cooper Flagg must fix his biggest flaw to fully unlock the Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks made their first splash of free agency when they traded for big-man shooter Santi Aldama. It's a positive that helps provide balance and spacing to the Mavs' offense, as they look to equip shooters around Cooper Flagg. Yet, there's one thing that would make their offense even stronger that not many people are talking about: Flagg improving his shooting.

Bringing in more shooting will obviously help, but their new franchise cornestone has to carry his weight as well.

Flagg's rookie success was weighed down by poor shooting

Last season, Flagg was one of the best rookies in the league. He won the 2025 Rookie of the Year award, even though his shooting numbers were far below those of star players. The shooting success he had at Duke from long range quickly turned into struggles in the NBA.

It's an issue he must fix if he hopes to take the team to new heights. The Mavericks have the potential to be much better than expected if Flagg can hone in on having a reliable jump shot, a flaw the former rookie must solve soon.

The Mavericks were already one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league last season, and one way they can begin to fix the issue is by leaning on their young star. Flagg has already shown his ability to attack inside and drill tough mid-range jumpers, and if he develops his shooting, he would become a dominant three-level scorer.

Flagg fixing his biggest flaw will be key to reaching superstar status

Flagg shot 29.5 percent from the 3-point line last season, a number far below what was expected. He began the season on a poor note, making 26.7 percent of his 3-pointers in his first month. His long-range shooting got progressively worse, as Flagg shot 25 percent from three in November, 33.3 percent in December, and 31.1 percent in January.

His 3-point shooting took a huge hit in March when he made 18.2 percent of his attempts. It was a disappointing statistic that fans couldn't overlook, especially when Flagg had seven games in which he made none of his 3-point attempts. It became a huge issue, as it once seemed like Rookie of the Year could end in a tie between Flagg and Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel. His in-season shooting slump, combined with the Hornets' team success, almost put him above Flagg in the race.

While Flagg won the award, his 3-point shooting would have made the difference in the race. It's a major flaw that the Mavs' star showed some improvement during the last month of the season, when he made 42.9 percent of his attempts. It was a huge jump from the prior few months.

Flagg must continue to make major strides in his shooting. The Mavericks could be much better than expected if he finds a reliable 3-point jumper.

Mavericks fixing their shooting starts with Cooper Flagg

The Mavericks were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league last season. They ranked in the bottom five in 3-pointers made, 3-pointers attempted, and 3-point percentage, as they had no solution to their horrendous shooting.

Now, it will be up to Flagg to fix his 3-point shooting if the Mavericks hope to improve their offense.

Dallas had three players last season who shot above 40 percent from long range. It was a testament to their biggest flaw. Inconsistencies and failing to capitalize on open attempts became the main issues, as players constantly went hot and cold or struggled with their wide-open attempts. It's one of the reasons why Flagg must take matters into his own hands.

Fans got a glimpse of how good Cooper Flagg can be whenever he shoots well from beyond the 3-point line. On April 3 against the Orlando Magic, the former rookie dropped 51 points and made six of his nine 3-point attempts in a massive statement game. It was an example of how good Flagg can be and why Dallas should believe in their young stud.

Now, imagine Flagg with a consistent 3-point shot. His driving would still set the tone, but his jumper would keep the defense honest. He'd be able to score from anywhere on the floor, and this is the element of his game that will help him turn into a superstar.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow