Cooper Flag: The new pillar of the Mavericks after the Doncic era

Dallas has opened a new chapter. Their star player Luca Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. The team bet on an ambitious reconstruction plan, and their most promising face is undoubtedly Cooper Flag. At the age of 18, Flag is not only a potential star, but also a key piece to redefine the team's future competitiveness.

Since he first trained with the U.S. national team at the Paris Olympics, everyone has agreed that Flag is not like a newbie. His method and tactical discipline are the most prominent traits, which will be key in the locker room, which has changed from relying on an offensive superstar to relying on a team structure.

The rare tactical vision

This young American player is known for his rare versatility. He is 2.06 meters tall, moves like a shooting guard, and has the ability to adapt to a variety of defensive situations. He can defend everything from wing to center, switch between screens and breakthroughs, block pass routes or protect the rim without losing his coolness.

In offense, his character may be more secondary in the first few months, but does not reduce its value as a result. He has good high-shot reading skills, makes the right decisions, and his outside shooting is improving. He doesn't need to take over the ball to play, which is very compatible with Dallas' new system, which will seek a more dispersed offense

His ability as an offensive connection is reminiscent of players with a wide vision, bringing the ball's flow and reading ability. This allows him to coexist with high-ball players like Kyrie Irving without creating space or rhythmic conflicts.

Owned elite defense from day one of the most exciting elements of the coaching staff is his defensive potential. Since elementary school, Flag has stood out for his ability to change his shooting, predict game and precise spins. Not only can he block shots, he can also read the game like a veteran.

The Mavericks are one of the worst defense teams in the Paint Zone. With Flag on the court, all this is expected to change immediately. His space-taking and blocking opponents’ instincts to break through are comparable to the best young defensive inside in the league. He doesn't need high scores to affect the game; he just needs to make his team defend better.

And his attitude is contagious. In a league where young players prioritize offensiveness, Flag can leave his mark in the opponent's half. He returned to defend, scrambled and went all out in every attack.

Dallas has formed an experienced victory core around Flag. Irving, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson bring knowledge, leadership and experience under pressure. This allows rookie players to grow without needing to become the team's "savior" immediately.

can allow yourself to make mistakes, learn and adapt to the pace of the NBA. It’s not required to be a scoring leader, but to contribute to building a long-term role based on your strengths. The identity transformation that Dallas seeks, the departure of Doncic marks the end of an era based on offensive talent. With Flagg as the emerging figure, Dallas seems to be betting on a new identity based on group competition. It’s not about replacing the Slovenians with another star, it’s about building something different.

This player has everything necessary to become the next superstar and sets new standards. If the team keeps in the right direction during the Flag era, this may be as important as before.