Cooper Flagg Opens Up On Mavs' Struggles, Says Fans Haven't Been Given 'A Lot to Love'
After the Dallas Mavericks fell to 3-9 with Wednesday night's 123-114 loss to the Phoenix Suns, star rookie Cooper Flagg admitted that the fans have a right to be disappointed with what they've seen so far.
"I think we have not given the fans a lot to love," Flagg told reporters after the loss. "I think that's part of it, and I think we take a lot of responsibility on that and having lost the fans a little bit. I think had we given them a lot more to cheer for and be up for in the fourth quarter and be into it and given them more wins, I think we would have looked at it a little differently. I think we can take a lot of responsibility for that, but I mean, the fans have been there. They were up tonight. They were huge, they were loud, they were positive."
Dallas fans have dealt with a rollercoaster of a year, as star guard Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and star point guard Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL. Things were looking up when the Mavs landed Flagg with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, but Irving's absence and a calf injury to star big man Anthony Davis have placed immense pressure on the 18-year-old. General manager Nico Harrison was fired, appeasing the vocal members of the fan base who spent months chanting "Fire Nico!"
With the negative energy from Harrison's tenure now gone, Flagg said he hopes to help Mavs fans turn the page as the team tries to transition to a new era.
"I just want to move forward and just wanna try to continue to give them things to be positive for and show up and be happy that they support us," Flagg said. "I'm just happy they show up for us."
