Cooper Flagg 'Much More Confident' as Mavs' PG, Talks Development During Rookie NBA Season

Dallas Mavericks point forward Cooper Flagg said Wednesday he's grown more comfortable and "so much more confident" operating as the team's primary facilitator as the season has progressed.

"I think I've had to change a lot," he said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. "Coming in I wasn't expecting to kind of be thrown in the fire as much. Obviously I was looking at [Anthony Davis], [Kyrie Irving], Klay [Thompson]. Obviously with some of the injuries and stuff, it just didn't work out that way, and I was just kinda thrown out there a little bit more than I would have expected and had a little more responsibility. But overall, I just think it's something to develop. Coach Kidd has given me that confidence to go out there and be a creator and learn the game in a lot of different ways, I think it's just helped me to get comfortable all around."

Flagg, 19, has lived up to the hype that came with being the top overall pick in the draft, averaging 20.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. The Mavericks, beset by injuries and ultimately the Anthony Davis trade, haven't had the season they envisioned, going 24-52.

But in Flagg, they undoubtedly have a franchise cornerstone to build around. He's proven he can handle whatever they throw at him during an impressive rookie season.