Jason Kidd calls out 3 ‘terrible’ refs after crucial Cooper Flag layoff
The Dallas Mavericks have relied entirely on starting Cooper Flagg at the point guard positiona move that has sparked considerable debate since the start of the season.
Head coach Jason Kidd he recently offered a profanity-laced defense of the decision, dismissing media critics. “Critics? That’s your opinion. You guys write that bulls… I know what the hell I’m doing. I’m building players,” Kidd said.
He cited his past success with Giannis Antetokounmpo as his vision for the move. The gamble is paying off, as the first overall pick has evolved into a solid ball handler, averaging 22 points and 4.6 assists per game.
Despite this growth, the Mavericks fell 111-107 to the Houston Rockets on Saturday in a game marred by officiating controversy.
Two days after setting a new franchise record, Flagg scored 34 points, but Kidd was rattled by a late layup attempt that would have tied the score with 25 seconds left.
In an interview with ESPN, Kidd criticized the referees for the failure to send a rookie to the line. “I saw the foul. Sean (Wright), Simon (Jelks) and Jason (Goldenberg) were terrible tonight. The refs were unacceptable. It’s a foul, and he has to be at the free throw line. Now, does he make both? That’s on the player, but the refs didn’t do their job. They were told it was terrible.
Flegg’s performance included 13-of-25 shooting and 12 rebounds, making him the only teenager to record back-to-back 30-point double-doubles.
According to ESPN Research, Flegg’s 50 points over the last two games are the most by any rookie in a two-game stretch since 1997.
Kevin Durant noted that he “gets it. He understands that he’s hard to stop.” Flagg also addressed the officiating, saying, “I definitely felt some contact, but at the end of the day, the refs make the calls, so it is what it is.”
Although Flagg set a teenage record with 83 points in two contests, the Mavericks fell to a 19-30 record.
As for his coach speaking, Flagg said, “I feel like JK has a lot of confidence in me… It’s just my back.”
The relationship between Kidd and Flagg remains central as they prepare to face the Boston Celtics on February 3rd.
2026-02-01 16:02:00
