Kevin Durant Gets Honest About Cooper Flagg's Performance
Kevin Durant offered one of his strongest public endorsements yet for Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg after their latest highly charged duel.
After Houston’s loss in Dallas, Kevin Durant spoke at length about how quickly Cooper Flagg is adapting to the league, highlighting the teenager’s complete offensive package and poise.
The veteran scorer pointed to Flagg’s ability to attack at all three levels and his growing comfort reading coverages, framing the performance as evidence that the rookie is already solving NBA defenses instead of just reacting to them.
For a superstar who is often selective when publicly evaluating peers, Durant’s willingness to break down Flagg’s game in detail signaled genuine respect rather than routine postgame courtesy.
He has previously suggested that Flagg has the tools to be talked about among the greats one day, and his comments in Dallas only strengthened that narrative around the 18 year old forward.
Flagg Answers the Challenge
On the court Flagg backed up the praise with a stat line that underscored his versatility, finishing with 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and multiple defensive stocks in the Mavericks 122 to 109 win. He operated comfortably as a secondary creator alongside Anthony Davis, finding gaps off the ball, attacking closeouts and making quick decisions that punished late rotations.
The performance fits into a broader rookie campaign that has him near the top of the early Rookie of the Year conversation, with averages hovering in the high teens in scoring and strong contributions across the glass and playmaking categories.
In recent weeks he has also flashed a knack for big moments, including efficient scoring nights against playoff caliber opposition and a record setting outburst that made him the youngest player to reach 35 points in a game.
What Comes Next For The Rookie
Durant’s comments arrive as Dallas begins to stabilize around its young core, riding a stretch of four wins in five games and building an identity that leans on Flagg’s two way impact.
The next meeting with Houston on January 3 already looms as a measuring stick, with another marquee head to head between Flagg and Durant sure to draw heavy national attention.
