Being the face of a franchise whose fans expect its centerpiece to deliver night after night can be an intimidating responsibility, especially when that player is expected to lead the team as someone as talented as Luka Doncic. However, Cooper Flagg appears to be embracing that challenge.
After the 19-year-old delivered a game-high 43-point double-double to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a hard-fought 125-122 victory over the Indiana Pacers, DeMarcus Cousins had plenty of praise for the Duke stud.
Speaking on the “Gil’s Arena Show,” Boogie warned the rest of the league about what Flagg could become once he reached his prime. Considering how dominant the sophomore forward has already been, Cousins even went as far as calling him “Captain America.”
“He’s been incredible, man. It’s the fact that he’s 19 going on 20, he’s still not even close to being in his prime yet, and this is what we are seeing from him on a nightly basis. He can do what he wants, man. Cooper Flagg do what he wants; he is Mister America, Captain America, however you want to look at it,” Cousins said. “He does what he wants. But this is the future of the NBA, future face, a future face coldest white since Pablo; it’s not even close.”
Flagg is the Catalyst For the Mavs
Given that the Mavericks have lost four of their first 11 games, it is clear that this team is still a work in progress. That is also reflected in their offensive rating, which sits just outside the league’s top 10.
However, Flagg has already established himself as the team’s leading scorer, averaging an improved 25.9 points per game. He has also looked perfectly comfortable playing alongside Kyrie Irving, who is averaging 22.9 points per game. The duo appears to be feeding off each other’s energy, giving Dallas two reliable offensive options.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
That being said, if Coop can lead the Mavericks to a top-six seed in the Western Conference, they could potentially be just one move away from making a deep playoff run.
At this point, everyone watching Dallas has been impressed by the confidence with which the 19-year-old is leading the team. His production and two-way impact have already placed him ahead of roughly three-fourths of the league.
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