Mavericks’ head coach Jason Kidd gave high praise to rookie Cooper Flagg, telling ESPN he’s “lucky” to be his coach. 2025 No. 1 overall NBA Draft choice, Cooper Flagg, only saw two games’ worth of Las Vegas Summer League action before being shut down until the 2025 NBA regular season…

Mavericks’ head coach Jason Kidd gave high praise to rookie Cooper Flagg, telling ESPN he’s “lucky” to be his coach. 2025 No. 1 overall NBA Draft choice, Cooper Flagg, only saw two games’ worth of Las Vegas Summer League action before being shut down until the 2025 NBA regular season

 

Below is a polished 500‑word article covering Coach Jason Kidd’s high praise for Cooper Flagg and the circumstances around his shutdown after Summer League:

In his post–Summer League comments to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears, Jason Kidd — a Hall of Famer and veteran coach — lavished praise on rookie phenom Cooper Flagg, declaring, *“Cooper Flagg is really mature for an 18‑year‑old… plays both ends hard… Offensively can score and pass. He has a high IQ defensively, solid all‑around, a great young man. I’m lucky to be his coach.”*

Flagg’s Summer League run in Las Vegas was brief but captivating. After debuting against the Lakers on July 10, he posted 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and a block in 32 minutes—despite a rough 5‑for‑21 shooting night . Kidd applauded Flagg’s poise under pressure, emphasizing how the Lakers doubled him from the opening tip—a strategy Kidd saw as a sign of “respect” .

In his second appearance, Flagg exploded for 31 points on 10‑for‑21 shooting in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, showing off his scoring versatility and competitiveness .

Following that breakout game, the Mavericks shut him down for the remainder of Summer League—not due to injury, but strategically, to preserve the young phenom for the regular season . This mirrors how teams managed elite rookies in the past, such as Victor Wembanyama and Jabari Smith Jr., who were also held out after limited Summer League action.

Kidd’s full-throated endorsement of Flagg went beyond mere performance. He emphasized maturity, defensiveness, decision-making, and temperament: *“You want the ball in his hands… he’s very good to take decisions… his poise as an 18‑year‑old is incredible”* . This endorsement is especially significant given Kidd’s experience mentoring young stars like Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo .

Kidd isn’t playing Flagg safe — he’s pushing him to grow. Earlier in the offseason, Kidd revealed plans to occasionally deploy Flagg at point guard to challenge him: “I want to put him at point guard… make him uncomfortable…and see how he reacts running the show.” Mark Cuban seconded this, envisioning Flagg initiating offense alongside veteran cores like Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson .

The Mavericks’ cautious approach — pulling Flagg after just two games — underscores how precious the organization views their top overall pick. With the regular season’s start (officially October 2025) looming, Dallas is accelerating his off‑court development while keeping his on‑court workload controlled.

In summary, Kidd’s verdict is clear: Flagg offers a rare combination of skill, maturity, and competitiveness at just 18. Whether leading fast breaks, playing lockdown defense, initiating offense, or thriving under pressure, his Summer League flash was enough for Kidd to say he’s fortunate to guide the young talent. Now, all eyes shift to training camp and the regular season, where Flagg’s seamless integration could spark another Mavericks resurgence.