After 70 games, four 40-point performances, and an incredible 51-point performance against Orlando (which made him the first teenager in the league to hit the mark), Cooper Flagg’s rookie season has finally come to an end. He averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in this span, and he did it all with a team that went 26-56.
Now Dallas heads into the lottery, and Flagg heads home to Maine. But his coach, Jason Kidd, has one message for him, which has absolutely nothing to do with basketball.
Jason Kidd’s Offseason Advice for Mavericks Rookie Cooper Flagg
Jason Kidd did not talk about shot mechanics. He did not mention any defense or film work. Nothing.
He just focused on Cooper Flagg’s well-being after Dallas had a tumultuous season. He promptly said, “First thing would be rest.”
He continued, “Just understanding the expectations and everything that was coming out of the draft, Summer League. Just giving a 19-year-old a little time to have some R&R. Play a little golf.”
And then something that struck a chord with fans and analysts alike: “He’s gotta give his mind and body some rest here because next year will be a lot longer.”
Jason Kidd on what Cooper Flagg needs to work on this summer:
“First thing would be rest. Just understanding the expectations and everything that was coming out of the draft, Summer League. Just giving a 19-year-old a little time to have some R&R. Play a little golf…He’s gotta… pic.twitter.com/lDe2kyzoqd
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) April 12, 2026
The last line here matters a lot. There was nobody to carry the Dallas Mavericks this year. They traded Luka Dončić; there was no Kyrie Irving. They brought in Anthony Davis, but ended up trading him away, too.
For a rookie, this is a lot of mental and physical load, especially on a 19-year-old. It was not the same for other rookies in the league.
Despite it all, Flagg carried this season and made sure the Mavs finished 26-56. He led the team in rebounds, points, and assists, all as a teenager.
To add to that, he ended up in the same sentences as big names like Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
That’s absolutely not a typical situation for a rookie. Most first-year players ease into the league in the shadows of a veteran. Here, Flagg became a “veteran” figure.
And the season was not without its complications for the rookie. His season ended on a sour note, despite all the hard work. He sustained a left ankle sprain in the finale against Chicago.
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The Mavericks should have protected his energy in a meaningless game like this one, which is a separate conversation, but there are still five months for him to rest. And Kidd really wants him to use it to relax and gather all his strength.
With a team as volatile as the Mavericks, anything is expected, but with a new lottery pick landing in Dallas soon, the infrastructure around Flagg will improve, and the Mavs won’t have to rely on prayers anymore.
Ideally, it is expected that losses will stop piling up and minutes will increase, but the spotlight on Dallas will only grow.