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"You can see he's not gonna be a bust" - Arenas is not worried about Flagg's slow NBA start
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- "You can see he's not gonna be a bust" - Arenas is not worried about Flagg's slow NBA start
Being the second youngest player ever to play in the NBA, Cooper Flagg entered the NBA with massive expectations on his shoulders. Compared to Larry Bird, even before making his first appearance, there was an expectation that the Duke sensation would make an instant game-winning impact on the Dallas Mavericks .
However, as the 2025-26 season has kicked off, Flagg has constantly learned how tough it is to be the best player in an NBA game. While his numbers haven't been eye-popping and many started to question his slow start, Gilbert Arenas isn't one of those to doubt Flagg's potential.
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In fact, Agent Zero is only further impressed by the 18-year-old's refusal to bow down under pressure and constantly fight until the buzzer to help his short-handed team win.
Arenas acknowledges the effort and heart of Flagg
Cooper is a natural forward who is known to use his 6'9" length to make a massive impact in the frontcourt. However, due to Kyrie Irving 's absence, coach Jason Kidd has constantly started Flagg in the backcourt as an experimental ball handler. This sudden positional change has been no minor adjustment for the rookie who is still getting accustomed to the NBA's speed, physicality and intensity.
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Expected to run the offense and create scoring opportunities for others has disrupted Flagg's own scoring rhythm. As a result, over his first six appearances, Coop is averaging only 13.8 points while shooting 37.3 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Nevertheless, what stands out for Arenas is Flagg's heart and courage. Despite the latter constantly getting reality checks in every game, with defenders getting ultra physical with him, or him failing to register a single assist in games, he refuses to fold.
Instead, Cooper ensures a more careful approach, such as limiting his turnovers to fewer than two per game or making sure he adds to the Mavs' tally whenever he reaches the free-throw line, as evidenced by his not missing a single attempt from the charity stripe in his NBA career thus far.
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"You can see he's not gonna be a bust ," Arenas said on his podcast. " You can see what he's doing out there, the flashes of his game."
Cooper needs to learn how to deal with immense pressure
The most daunting challenge for No. 1 picks like Flagg is the unrealistic expectations that come from being labeled "once-in-a-generation" talents before even playing a single NBA minute. Both fans and media analysts expect instant greatness, characterized by immediate game-winning performances and superstar consistency.
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Thus, many in Dallas already want Flagg to become the next Luka Doncic overnight, forgetting that every young player, regardless of talent, needs time to adapt. Coop is still learning to balance scoring with playmaking, and that development process naturally comes with growing pains.
However, there are already promising signs that Flagg is finding his footing. For instance, Cooper has scored 15 or more points in four of his last five games and even registered a double-double during that span, signaling that he is starting to adjust to the NBA pace and gain confidence. Arenas truly recognizes this and wants fans to see things from his perspective as well.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
