Recently, Dallas Mavericks number one overall draft pick Cooper Flagg dominated his stint at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, needing only two games of action before the Mavericks decided they'd seen what they needed to see. Flagg has the rare distinction of being a number one pick who will enter a team that appears ready to win now, with several future Hall of Fame veterans on the roster.

Still, despite the talent around him, Flagg is expected to make a huge impact in his first NBA season, as evidenced by a recent NBA executive poll conducted by ESPN, in which Flagg was named as the runaway favorite to win this season's Rookie of the Year award.

“The early Rookie of the Year front-runner isn't exactly a surprise: Flagg was the No. 1 pick for good reason and is considered not only the top prospect but perhaps the most NBA-ready player in the class,” noted Jeremy Woo of ESPN. “He joins a Mavericks team expected to lean on him, with Kyrie Irving recovering from tearing an ACL in March. Flagg's playmaking skills, positional size and defensive impact project to be immediately useful.”

In second place in the Rookie of the Year poll was San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper, who was picked right behind Flagg in the draft.

What is the Mavericks' ceiling?

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) smiles after he makes a basket against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Article Continues Below

If Kyrie Irving were going to be healthy to start the year, it's possible that the Mavericks would be viewed as legitimate contenders entering next season, completing a full roller coaster of events after their trade of Luka Doncic in February.

However, unfortunately, Irving will miss the opening chunk of the 2025-26 campaign as he recovers from an ACL injury he sustained in March, which may limit how good Dallas is able to be, at least in the early portion of the season.

Still, Flagg will have some great mentors to learn from in Irving, Klay Thompson, and Anthony Davis, and while there will certainly be some growing pains as there are with any rookie, the Duke standout appears poised to help the team win now.

The Mavericks' schedule for the 2025-26 season is slated to be released in August, with the season beginning in late October.

More Dallas Mavericks News
Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) waves to fans after the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center
The 4 times Lakers’ Luka Doncic is scheduled to face Mavericks in 2025-26 seasonJosue Pavon ·
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd looks on during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center.
How Mavericks will immediately make franchise history in 2025-26 seasonJoey Mistretta ·
San Antonio Spurs forward Osayi Osifo (26) defends against Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) in the second quarter of their game at Thomas & Mack Center.
Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg gets massive corn maze in Maine in his honorJackson Stone ·
Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, NBA, NBA 2K26, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper lead NBA 2K26 rookie ratingsTomer Azarly ·
Mar 16, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Kessler Edwards (20) controls the ball as Philadelphia 76ers guard Ricky Council IV (14) defends during the second half at American Airlines Center.
Nuggets reach deal with recent Mavericks forwardBrett Siegel ·
Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) drives to the basket as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) defends during the second half in game six of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center
Thunder’s Jalen Williams admits to Kyrie Irving he got shots for wrist injury in playoffsJosue Pavon ·