This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/mavericks/onsi as Jason Kidd explains controversial Cooper Flagg decision that could pay off for Mavericks.

Is it too early for me to assume the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year race has already been narrowed down to two players? Probably, but with the way Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel have been playing, it feels difficult to see another player crashing the party.

Mavericks' Cooper Flagg makes NBA history only done by LeBron, 'Melo and Wemby originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Cooper Flagg, yet again, has made some NBA history.

Lately, Cooper Flagg has gone above and beyond the call of duty. The rookie sensation for the Dallas Mavericks has been entrusted with the of starting point guard role. With that will come a certain amount of criticism as to whether the No.1 pick coming off one year at Duke has what it takes.

The Dallas Mavericks found rare success during the 2025-26 NBA season following their matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. The Dallas Mavericks showed some potential of making a comeback this season after a 119-111 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Cooper Flagg takes over the No. 1 spot in NBA Rookie Power Rankings as Derik Queen surges, highlighting a standout class on Dec. 11.

Cooper Flagg addressed his biggest challenge in the NBA and how he has grown as a player since joining the Mavericks.

It feels like every time we refresh the box score, Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg is doing something that makes you double-take. We aren’t just talking about a nice dunk or a solid quarter here and there.

On Saturday morning, ESPN published a list of the 25 best players under the age of 25 and Flagg was featured prominently. See where the Mavs’ talented rookie landed below and what ESPN’s NBA insiders had to say about him.

DALLAS — Early in the 2025-26 season, Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd surprised many by playing 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg at the point guard position. The results were far from ideal, as Flagg — who had primarily played forward previously — did not look especially comfortable at point guard.

Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg scored 35 points, becoming the youngest NBA player to reach the mark, in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.

Flagg went viral for a turn-around fadeaway midrange shot in that game, as the mid-range has been dialed in for him recently. He's more comfortable living in the area of the floor, and once the three-point shot develops, he's going to be a really hard player to guard.