Dirk Nowitzki drops Cooper Flagg truth Mavericks desperately needed

Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki knows what it's like to experience growing pains in the NBA. After a year of experiencing brutal reality checks, Nowitzki's work ethic changed to quickly become one of the NBA's best power forwards. Nowitzki recently praised Cooper Flagg on his work ethic and how Flagg can use it to reach unimaginable heights.

Nowitzki recently said that Flagg's work ethic was "through the roof" and that he's already reading the game at such a young age, like very few have. LeBron James and Victor Wembanyama have had a similar amount of hype, but remember that the Mavs only had a 1.8 percent chance to snag Flagg in the NBA Draft Lottery, making this one of the more stunning events in recent memory.

Nowitzki is slowly making his way back to the Mavs after a brutal Luka Doncic trade that stunned the hearts of every Mavs fan. It looks as though the fans, as well as Nowitzki, are giving the green light to ride with Flagg. It reminds us all of how hard Nowitzki had to work during a time when international players would get tested right away, but Flagg already has the tools necessary to be a relevant player in today's NBA.

Dirk Nowitzki sees in Cooper Flagg what fueled his own rise

Nowitzki's rookie season in the NBA was a struggle to say the least. He wasn't sure he'd make it until he worked more with his personal trainer, Holger Geschwindner. Nowitzki also started in the late 1990s, when international players really had to prove themselves to stay on the court. He would eventually become one of the best power forwards of all time, an MVP, an NBA champion, and an NBA Finals MVP.

Flagg doesn't look like he will have that same struggle. As one source told The Smoking Cuban, Flagg was "unreal in his workout." His 3-point shooting was even better than expected, which is what he truly needs to complete to become an all-around threat. At Duke, Flagg also showed off his elite defensive skills in anticipating off the ball to intercept it. His jumping ability is phenomenal, as he would block shots into the crowd plenty of times.

Nowitzki also touched on how Flagg can defend multiple players. At Duke, he mostly played and guarded the four spot. As Jason Kidd has said, he wants to put Flagg at point guard to make him feel "uncomfortable," but he can defend pretty much anywhere on the court except for the big man. Don't expect him to guard Nikola Jokic or Victor Wembanyama, but anywhere from one to four, he can cover with great length.

Nowitzki talking like this is telling enough for what fans need to hear, but this also marks another turning point for the Mavs in the 2025 calendar year. Nowitzki breaking the ice is just what Mavs fans needed to hear.

The greatest Maverick in history was stunned (and in a way shunned) by his organization following the unforgettable Doncic trade. Nowitzki was a mentor to Doncic, and still can be. Now, he needs to win fans back by going back to games and ensuring Flagg has a healthy Mavs career.