Mavericks can finally grant Cooper Flagg the wish he's been begging for

After a year of losing, injuries, and trades, the Dallas Mavericks can finally get back to winning next season. This is all Cooper Flagg wanted to do as a rookie, but Dallas had other plans.

"I think the losing," Flagg said when asked about what he'd remember most about his rookie season. "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."

Cooper Flagg despises losing

Every game Dallas lost bothered Flagg. He had to endure this feeling 56 times, the second-most losses for the Mavericks in a season since 2000, and he doesn't want to have to go through this again. He has won at the highest level for his entire life, but his first season with Dallas was a change of pace.

They traded Anthony Davis, shut down Kyrie Irving, and tanked some games at the end of the season after expecting to be contenders before the season began, but that plan quickly ended. Davis only played 20 games due to a couple of injuries, and Dallas quickly fell into a hole they couldn't get out of.

They then made the decision not to bring Irving back from his ACL tear that he suffered in March of 2025, fully signaling that they were focused on the future. Dallas could've made a push for the playoffs once Davis was healthy and Irving was ready to return to the lineup, but they gave up on both of those ideas. They felt that a future around Flagg was more important than a shot at making the Play-In Tournament.

Flagg's rookie year went from a time the Mavericks expected to win to a gap year, and this was far from their original plan. Flagg was expecting to join a well-established team where he'd play a major role, but he turned into the entire game plan right away. Jason Kidd at Flagg at point guard to begin the year, and even though that didn't last long, he still had a heavy offensive burden for the entire season.

Flagg was the Mavericks' entire offense, but that won't be the case next season.

Why next year will be a complete turnaround for Dallas

Irving and Dereck Lively II will return to the floor, two first-round picks will join the roster, and they'll have the financial flexibility to land some high-end free agents. The Mavericks' 2026-27 season isn't going to look anything like the 2025-26 season, and Dallas should make a return to the playoffs if everyone remains healthy.

Dallas has the assets to pull off a major turnaround, and this will ultimately help them grant Flagg's biggest wish of winning. Even a small step in the right direction, such as a play-in berth, should work wonders for Flagg and his well-being, and the Mavericks have to do whatever it takes to ensure they don't have another losing season.

Keeping your superstar happy is one of the most important things to do as an NBA franchise, and winning some games will do just that for their teenage prodigy.

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