Jason Kidd doubled Cooper Flagg’s comfort level

As it is The Dallas Mavericks are finishing preparations for the start of the 2025-26 NBA seasonhead coach Jason Kidd he reaffirmed his confidence in the rookie Cooper Flaggability to handle point guard duties. The Mavericks will open their season on Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs at the American Airlines Center, with tip-off set for 9:30 PM ET on ESPN.

Kidd spoke with Kevin Gray Jr. on Saturday. from DLLS Mavs, addressing the ongoing trust of the team in Flagg’s ball handling and decision making entering his first regular season.

“Yeah, I think from Summer League to the preseason he’s done a great job for the team playing that position, so I think we’re all comfortable with him doing that so we’ll see what happens on opening night,” Kidd said.

Mavericks Jason Kidd to me on how comfortable the team is with Cooper Flagg playing as their point guard:

“We’re all pleased that he’s doing it, so we’ll see what happens at the opening.” #MFFL pic.twitter.com/tMuVDHT6fm

— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) October 18, 2025

Jason Kidd praises Cooper Flagg’s growth as the Mavericks explore his expanded role at point guard

The comments mark the second time this year Kidd publicly endorsed Flagg’s potential to act as a prime mover. The head coach first floated the idea in June, explaining his desire to “make him uncomfortable” early by letting the 19-year-old run the offense and learn on the fly. Since then, Flagg has steadily adapted to the role, balancing his natural scoring instincts with the increased responsibility of a facilitator.

Flagg finished the preseason on a high note Wednesday in Las Vegas, recording 13 points, three assists and two rebounds while shooting 5-for-11 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line. A 121-94 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The win capped off a strong preseason for Dallas, who finished 3-1.

The 2025 No. 1 overall pick has drawn camp-wide praise for his versatility, poise and feel for the game. At 6-foot-9, Flagg’s blend of size and coordination gives Kidd the flexibility to experiment with unconventional lineups. With Kyrie Irving still recovering from last season’s ACL injury and Dante Exum limited in training camp, Flagg’s ball handling has provided much-needed stability to the Mavericks offense.

Kidd’s willingness to empower Flagg mirrors his approach with past youth players, encouraging them to expand their skills early in their careers. His latest comments suggest Flagg’s role could evolve beyond that of a traditional power forward, allowing him to initiate plays, transition and create mismatches against smaller defenders.

The Mavericks are set to open the season against the Spurs in a key early test for the new look

During his only season at Duke, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three. His well-rounded skill set has translated smoothly to the NBA game, especially his ability to process the defense and make advanced reads under pressure.

Dallas’ frontcourt, now led by Anthony Davis and PJ Washington along with Flagg, has quickly become one of the longest and most athletic units in the Western Conference. That combination of size and versatility could allow the Mavericks to play through more ball handlers and rely less on the traditional point guard game as Irving continues to rehabilitate.

The The Mavericks open the season against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs will be an early benchmark for Kidd’s new system. Vembanjama’s length and San Antonio’s revamped roster — featuring All-Star running back De’Aaron Fox — present a strong test for Flagg’s debut as a part-time GM.

For Kidd, however, the message is clear: Flagg has earned the trust to carry out the attack when called upon. As the Mavericks turn the page on their offseason overhaul, his rapid development could be the key to unlocking Dallas’ long-term ceiling.