Dallas Mavericks Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving duo, Digi Mart USA News: The Luka Dončić trade can never be erased, but the Mavericks have turned a corner less than two years later. It all started when the Ping-Pong balls fell Dallas’ way in the 2025 draft lottery, giving the franchise the right to select Cooper Flagg with the top pick of the draft.
The coveted prospect out of Duke had a great first season that led to Rookie of the Year honors, but the Mavs finished 26–56 without superstar guard Kyrie Irving, who missed the season while recovering from a torn ACL. Anthony Davis, the centerpiece of the Dončić trade, played just 20 games with Dallas last season before he was dealt to Washington at the trade deadline.
With general manager Nico Harrison out by that point, the ghosts of the most shocking trade in NBA history were gone.
This was Flagg’s team, but Irving’s presence was a looming question. The two are on completely separate timelines.
Dallas could have benefited from trading Irving for future assets that better fit the Flagg timeline. However, the new front office led by Masai Ujiri decided not to trade the star point guard.
The Mavs’ stance signaled that they wanted to see how a Flagg-Irving pairing would look on the court. If the wheels fell off, Irving could still be sent elsewhere at the deadline.
That caution has largely been set aside, because the two have been electric next to each other.
On Monday, Flagg and Irving combined for 78 points in a 125–122 win over the Pacers. Flagg had 43 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals, going 16-of-25 from the field and 3-for-6 from three-point range.
Irving added 35 points, hitting seven three-pointers on 10 attempts. It was Dallas’ third consecutive victory and gave the Mavs a 7–4 start.
Indiana remains without Tyrese Haliburton and is in the midst of a dreadful start to the season, but the game was a signature win for Flagg and Irving in front of their home fans. Up two points with under a minute left, Naji Marshall rebounded his own missed free throw, and the ball ended up in Flagg’s hands.
He beat Andrew Nembhard and nailed a clutch midrange jumper to increase the lead to two possessions with 26.3 seconds left.
Aaron Nesmith made a clutch three for the Pacers on the other end. Irving then evaded defensive pressure, got fouled, and made both free throws.
Nesmith had a chance to tie the game, but his three rimmed out, and Dallas emerged with a big win on the second night of a back-to-back.
Asked postgame how his game has evolved, Flagg said, “Just the confidence. Being comfortable getting to my spots.
Learning from someone like Kyrie can teach you a lot. Just watching his execution at the end of games has helped me get comfortable getting to my spots.”
Irving and Flagg have vastly different player archetypes, but both are dynamic, with the ability to take over games and create shots for themselves and others. The team’s decision to keep Irving has done wonders for its young star.
Their complementary styles have produced early wins, which could make Dallas a surprise playoff team this year.
So far, Flagg is averaging 25.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 3.0 stocks (steals plus blocks) per game. Irving is at 22.9 points and 4.3 assists per game while shooting 39.5% from three on over eight attempts a night.
Together, that is 48.8 points and 11.2 assists per game from the pair. Only a handful of duos are rivaling that output across the league right now: Dončić and Austin Reaves (Lakers), Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown (76ers), and Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray (Nuggets).
As a product of the Flagg and Irving run, the Mavericks are in the top half of the NBA on both offense and defense. Flagg is a force with his length and athleticism, and Irving has been a good perimeter defender on top of his offensive production.
Early in Flagg’s second NBA season, he has grown in every aspect of his game, scoring more, making more plays and having a greater impact on defense.
What has been most impactful for Flagg, though, is Irving’s presence. His gravity opens driving lanes for the young star, and his superior three-point shooting creates more room for Flagg to operate.
Flagg did not have that last year outside the few games he played alongside Davis, and Irving’s game is much more complementary. He has brought out the best in numerous stars in the past, and Flagg is the latest.
The Mavs are not perfect. They need better shooting as a collective unit, and Flagg’s distance shooting is still a work in progress.
Max Christie and Zaccharie Risacher could give more, and the roster is a bit clunky with a surplus of wings. However, Irving’s return from injury has done wonders for Flagg.
The duo is already one of the NBA’s best and could bring the Mavs back to the playoffs after a brief but grueling hiatus.
