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As the Dallas Mavericks tipped off their 2026-27 NBA preseason with a 135-117 defeat to the Houston Rockets on Friday in China, star guard Kyrie Irving's recent remarks about Cooper Flagg may have shed light on his future with the franchise amid trade speculation.
In a conversation with Grant Afseth of Dallas Sports Journal, Irving lauded the 19-year-old Flagg's growth and conveyed his enthusiasm for continuing to share the court with the reigning Rookie of the Year.
"He just has a confidence that he carries with him everywhere he goes," Irving said. "To be as young as he is and to be as experienced just so quickly or be adaptable so quickly, it was amazing to see. He's a rookie coming in and putting up stats that only Michael Jordan was reaching. It's no gas. It's all real. It's all facts with that kid."
Irving also made it clear that he envisions himself playing alongside Flagg beyond the upcoming season. "I'm looking forward to growing with him and seeing how his development happens over the next few years," Irving said.
Kyrie Irving Reaffirms Commitment to Mavericks Amid Organizational Changes
Although Irving's comments do not definitively rule out a future trade, his emphasis on developing alongside Flagg suggests he remains invested in the Mavericks' long-term direction.
The veteran guard previously addressed his commitment to Dallas amid the franchise's significant organizational changes over the past two seasons. Speaking with Noah Weber of The Smoking Cuban, Irving acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the team while emphasizing his appreciation for the organization and its supporters.
"I'm in love with this place just because of how welcoming it was, not just from the franchise aspect but also the fans, lot of support around the city," Irving said.
Irving also discussed embracing a fresh start after the Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025, moved Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards at the 2026 trade deadline and continued reshaping their roster this offseason. "I'm not sure what exactly that looks like but I'm just turning the page and just looking forward to building something new," Irving said.
His latest remarks about Flagg further reinforce that outlook as Dallas prepares for a new chapter.
Cooper Flagg Excited to Build Chemistry with Irving
Flagg, meanwhile, expressed similar excitement about sharing the court with Irving, highlighting the veteran's ability to control the pace of games and create scoring opportunities.
"I think just his pace, the way he's able to slow down and really manipulate the defense and get to his spots," Flagg said. "It's been really fun to watch and fun to play with as well. Just the gravity that he commands has gotten me a lot of easier shots as well. So it's been fun."
Flagg also explained how Dallas plans to utilize its ball handlers differently this season. "It's great. I think we have a lot of guys that can handle the ball. I think just with the way that we're trying to play this year, we'll look a lot different from last year," Flagg explained. "Helping each other out to make it easier on everybody. And getting me and Kai live-ball catches in the half-court, I think is something that we've talked a lot about and I think can look really good for us. So I'm really excited, though, to be able to share the court with Kai. He's obviously a special, special player."
Dallas will face Houston again Sunday at 6 a.m. ET on NBA TV before returning home to conclude its preseason schedule against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday and Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
Originally reported by yahoo.