NBA Rankings expose Mavericks' glaring roster issues around Cooper Flagg

The Ringer recently released its Top 100 NBA players for the 2025–26 season, ranking players as of today while excluding those with season-ending injuries or who have yet to take the floor. With Kyrie Irving sidelined, the Dallas Mavericks placed just one player on the list: Cooper Flagg. Dallas is one of only three teams with a single representative, a surprising grouping that includes the rebuilding Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings.

Cooper Flagg is Dallas’ only Top 100 player

That left several strong candidates, such as Naji Marshall and P.J. Washington, off the list entirely, despite impressive seasons. Meanwhile, players like Ajay Mitchell, Donte DiVincenzo, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Josh Hart, Moussa Diabate, and Neemias Queta made the cut instead of that duo, or any other deserving Maverick.

It’s a tough pill to swallow. Sure, Flagg landing at No. 47 as a 19-year-old rookie is impressive, but the lack of any other Dallas representation says everything about the roster’s current state. Right now, the Mavs are lumped in with the Nets and Kings, and that’s not good company.

Sure, Irving has been a mainstay on lists like these, but this ranking is about the present. Realistically, it’s unclear how much longer he’ll remain with the Mavericks, given that he’s now 34 and hasn’t had the cleanest injury history. At this stage of his career, his best fit may be elsewhere rather than on a rebuilding Dallas roster.

Mavericks have work to do around their young star

Rankings like these are inherently subjective, and there’s always room for disagreement. Whether it’s LeBron James at No. 30 or Derrick White at No. 31, those debates miss the bigger picture. The real concern isn’t where players are ranked — it’s how few Mavericks players are included at all.

The lack of representation highlights a troubling reality. Outside of Flagg, the Mavericks don’t have enough top-end talent. Role players like Marshall and Washington have value, but contention demands far more than that, and at this point, even calling Flagg a true star feels premature.

Flagg will get there. Superstardom feels like a matter of when, not if. But the Mavericks are still a long way from building a contender around him. Progress may be underway, but for now, being lumped in with the Nets and Kings says everything about where they stand.

Rankings will always spark debate, but this isn’t really about who’s too high or too low. It’s about what the list reveals. And for Dallas, that reality is tough to ignore. Flagg represents hope, but hope alone isn’t enough. Until the roster catches up, the Mavs will remain on the outside looking in.