Cooper Flagg said he’s typically gotten some advance notice when he’s won major awards in the past, but he had no idea what the results were going to be as he watched the Rookie of the Year announcement on Monday, writes Christian Clark of The Athletic. Flagg prevailed in a tight race, giving him the trophy that most observers expected him to win ever since he was the No. 1 pick in the draft last June.
“It was probably one of the first times I won an award and I had to find out with everyone else,” he said. “That was pretty cool.”
The Mavericks held a celebration on Wednesday attended by roughly 100 team employees as Flagg accepted the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy. Among those attending were teammates Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Dereck Lively II, Brandon Williams and Caleb Martin.
“Coming into this year, we all had different expectations in how we thought the year would go,” Flagg said. “But all of that is in the past. I think it’s time to move forward. Continue to grow, continue to get better and have a high outlook on how next year can go. We are just going to put in the work all summer long. I think we’re all excited for it.”
Flagg received 56 first-place votes and edged former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel in the second-closest Rookie of the Year race since the current voting format was adopted for the 2002/03 season. Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 70 games and set a single-game scoring record for a teenager by reaching 51 points against Orlando earlier this month.
Flagg told reporters that he and Knueppel stayed in communication throughout the season.
“Me and Kon, we talked all year long,” Flagg said. “We never talked about the Rookie of the Year or what people were saying about it or anything like that. It was more just support for one another and staying in contact. He’s someone who will be one of my best friends for the rest of my life.”
Flagg encountered a few challenges during his rookie season, including coach Jason Kidd‘s decision to have him play point guard for the first time in his life. Kidd, who was also at Wednesday’s event, said Flagg is always willing to do whatever is asked of him.
“He loves competition,” Kidd said. “He loves both ends. He’s not one about just offense. He’s about playing the game of basketball. You have to play defense. Taking on the No. 1 defensive player every night … to be able to do what he did is remarkable. Well-deserved award. I think it just sets the tone for his career.”
The Mavs tied for 11th in the West at 26-56, giving Flagg the first extended losing experience of his life. He’s determined to change that as quickly as he can and lead the franchise back to playoff contention.
He’s already looking forward to next season and addressed his plans to improve his game over the summer, according to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal (subscription required). He hopes to add to his offensive repertoire, including creating more opportunities with his dribble.
“I’m going to work on a lot of different things. There’s always room to improve,” Flagg said. “I think there’s a lot of growth I can make offensively, off the dribble, and making reads. I’m excited to get in the gym, especially with teammates, and keep building.”
Trade Irving, Klay Thompson, PJ Washington, Gafford, Caleb Martin, Max Christie and Lively for a young PG,SG,PF,C. (Only 18 and 19 years old) in this draft along with expiring contracts. Waive the expiring contracts. Sign three veterans to sit on the bench. Example Garrett Temple, and Reggie Jackson
Decline Johnson and resign Dwight Powell. Powell the true franchise guy
Keep Nembhard, Powell Cisse and Naji Marshall along with Flagg. Build from here and the draft
Congratulations player ….. the next one.
Mavs have the 8th pick — Mikel Brown
Lebron at 19:
79 G 20.9 PPG 5.5 REB 5.9 AST 1.6 STL 0.7 BLK 2.9 VORP -0.6 DBPM on a 35-47 team
Cooper at 19:
70 G 21.0 PPG 6.7 REB 4.5 AST 1.2 STL 0.9 BLK 2.0 VORP 0.4 DBPM on a 26-56 team
Both 6’9″. Really similar player if you ask me. Not a lot of differences between the two. That’s Flagg’s ceiling. Crazy to see another Lebron while the OG is still active.
There’s more to player projection than just comparing same-age stats, especially when LeBron was coming straight out of HS and Flagg had a year at Duke before his rookie year, and also the fact that stats are easier to come by in today’s game than in 2003.
As good and promising as Cooper is, LeBron was still on another level in terms of ball handling, passing/vision, and being elite in every athletic category. Cooper is maybe a similar mold, but LeBron blows him out of the water in playmaking, quickness, leaping ability, and strength (few perimeter players can get even close to LeBron’s strength). That’s not to say Cooper isn’t very good in those categories, but if LeBron was an A+ in those categories, Flagg is like a B+ to A- depending on the category. Very good, but not LeBron good
Not a projection. They did have similar rookie yrs. And Cooper is the closest to next Bron out there . Time will tell. Imo they are similar players.
If he can keep up with him for 22 more years, they’ll have similar careers.
Exactly right. Flaggs -ceiling- is Lebron. But reaching that ceiling will always be in contention until he gets his health 100% perfect, like Lebrons was.
Dude will be a MVP one day, a true generational talent!
In my opinion, Kon is the real Roy. He put up almost the same numbers but transformed the Hornets into winners and they made it to the pay-in. Cooper just put up his numbers and the team was a failure this season; he failed to impact the team and improve it.
And Flagg put up those stats 3 really good games at the end of the season against G League talent
Kon made his team a winner and his 3pt shooting for a rookie. Nobody expected this
Kon “transformed the Hornets into winners” all by himself? I didn’t know that, he def should be ROY then.