Mavericks' next great duo hasn't even played together yet

While Dallas Mavericks fans haven't had a lot to celebrate on the court recently, the new duo of Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving will be playing together for the first time as teammates this season, and that should get fans excited. They have the potential to become the team's next great duo.

The wait is almost over for the Flagg-Irving duo

Fans will have waited 483 days since Flagg was selected first overall to see their two superstars together when they step onto the court on October 21. Irving's ACL tear, which he suffered on March 3, 2025, has sidelined him since then, and the team has suffered in his absence.

Irving's return can spark something in the Mavericks that fans haven't seen since the days of Luka Dončić. And this time, they've got one of the most exciting young players in the league, Cooper Flagg, right alongside him. If Irving can return to form and Flagg makes the jump he's projected to, the Mavericks could be in contention for a playoff spot.

The West is still a juggernaut at the top, but the lower seeds are definitely within reach, and if everyone plays well, the bare minimum should be a spot in the Play-In Tournament. The roster around Flagg and Irving is multi-talented, featuring the right amount of veterans and young talent to be something special.

Trade rumors overshadow what Mavericks are building right now

With all of the trade talk surrounding Irving, not enough time has been spent pondering what it would look like if he were to come back healthy and as close to his former self as possible. Sure, his trade value would rise, but Irving was brought in to help Dallas win a championship, and it'd be a shame if he left empty-handed.

In this era of league-wide talent parity, it often takes more than one superstar to construct a good team. Rarely can a one-man army make it all the way to the playoffs, and if they do, more often than not, they falter early.

Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving both play exciting, must-see basketball that'll keep fans glued to the television all season long. More than that, they're both proven winners at every level they've competed in and have the talent to be something special together. If this team can avoid the injury bug, then Dallas can definitely be something special this season behind their new dynamic duo.

Flagg has the tools to help win now

An important part of this equation is betting on a kid who will still be a teenager up until almost Christmas. While the main worry is whether Irving can return to All-Star form, Flagg is the other piece in making the Mavericks a competent basketball team.

Flagg showed up and showed out last season, bringing home the Rookie of the Year award in a race that was actually pretty competitive. He was a bright spot on a bad Mavericks team that finished a full 11 games outside of the play-in. In order for the Mavericks to be competitive again, Flagg likely has to be the All-Star-caliber player that many are already pegging him as.

Irving and Flagg should play well off each other, with Irving's ball-handling and shot-making combining with Flagg's off-ball talent and his ability to be the secondary creator when needed. Flagg's defensive game is already ahead of schedule, and if he improves, he could become one of the league's premier defensive talents.

The Mavs have had their fair share of excellent duos, and if everything goes according to plan, Flagg and Irving could form one of the best Dallas duos we've seen in years. They project to complement each other well, and Irving's experience combined with Flagg's potential will help them form something that fans should be excited about for years to come.

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