No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg received a reality check from 66-year-old former NBA player Eddie A. Johnson, who now works as a Suns announcer. Johnson was unimpressed with Flagg’s approach during the Mavericks’ 110-102 loss to the Rockets on Monday, a game played without Anthony Davis.
Flagg attempted only 10 shots, including five from beyond the arc, finishing with 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists in 33 minutes. Notably, he was scoreless in the second half after going 5-for-6 in the first half.
After the game, Johnson took to X (formerly Twitter) to call Flagg out, stating:
> “Cooper Flagg looks passive and hesitant, you play 33 minutes without AD. If you want it you have to show teammates you do. They will not wait for you. Welcome to the NBA!”
Flagg has yet to have a breakout game this season. Many Mavericks fans assumed this was due to Davis leading the offense as the focal point. However, with Davis out for two games, Flagg ideally should have more opportunities—but the rookie hasn’t fully capitalized on this window.
In the previous game on Saturday against the Pistons, Flagg scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out four assists, though he shot just 3 of 14. Despite the struggles with shooting, Flagg showed aggression, drawing eight trips to the free-throw line.
Without Davis, the onus falls on Flagg to lean more into his offensive potential, which could be key to the Mavericks’ success moving forward. This is exactly what Eddie A. Johnson is hinting at, especially given the playing time Flagg has earned.
### Mavericks Coach Jason Kidd on Flagg’s Passiveness in the Second Half vs. Rockets
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd acknowledged Flagg’s passiveness in the second half against Houston but didn’t share the same concerns as Johnson. Instead, Kidd praised Flagg for making the right plays down the stretch.
“I thought Cooper played a great game on both ends. Down the stretch, he made the right plays. Unfortunately, PJ’s going & D-Lo has the ball. You trust that he’s going to make the right plays,” Kidd said.
In Monday’s game, the offense primarily flowed through veteran forward P.J. Washington, who was the most productive Maverick offensively, finishing with 29 points and 12 rebounds on 55.0% shooting.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks relied on D’Angelo Russell as the primary playmaker over Cooper Flagg. The former All-Star guard recorded 10 points and 12 assists. These circumstances limited Flagg’s opportunities to take over the offense in this particular game.
As Flagg continues to develop, it will be interesting to see how he adjusts his approach and rises to the NBA challenge in the games ahead.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-cooper-flagg-gets-reality-check-from-66-year-old-ex-nba-star-after-struggling-lead-anthony-davis-less-mavericks