The Dallas Mavericks are starting over with one certainty and one big question mark. The certainty is Cooper Flaggcoming off a Rookie of the Year campaign. The question, meanwhile, is what he can become alongside Kyrie Irvingwho is ready to return after missing the entire 2025-26 season with a torn ACL.
It is a pairing that intrigues Dirk Nowitzki as well. The Mavericks legend, speaking with Marc Stein on The Stein Lineassessed the new-look Dallas team, coached by Dusty Maywhile making no secret of his optimism.
We’ll have to wait and see how they’re able to put all the pieces together, especially with a new coach and a new system. I’ve heard great things about him, his leadership, his work ethic and the way he communicates with the players. I think the team is really going to like him
Dirk Nowitzki
The coaching change will inevitably be one of the variables this season. New ideas, new dynamics and, above all, an offense that will have to find the best way to make Irving and Flagg work together.
Nowitzki: “Kyrie and Flagg can be dangerous”
According to Nowitzki, the starting point is naturally Irving’s recovery. The former Cavaliers and Celtics star is coming off a season with virtually no NBA basketball, but the first footage of his workouts has offered plenty of positive signs.
I’ve seen some videos on social media over the last few weeks and he looks great. He’s still quick with his change of direction and explosive. Seeing Kyrie and Coop on the floor together is going to be really exciting
Dirk Nowitzki
And that is where Dirk’s prediction becomes particularly interesting.
They’ve kept some veterans and added some new players. Obviously, they need Lively to stay healthy – that will be huge. But I think they have some good pieces. If they can make things work with Kyrie and Coop together, they could become a really dangerous duo.
Dirk Nowitzki
That does not automatically mean bringing Dallas back to the level of the team that reached the NBA Finals in 2024. The Western Conference remains extremely competitive, and the Mavericks are coming off a season with just 26 wins in 2025-26.
Still, when asked to make a prediction for next season, Nowitzki was willing to go out on a limb:
If I had to make a prediction right now, I’d say more than 30 wins. But the Western Conference is tough and the entire NBA has become more competitive. We’ll see what happens
Dirk Nowitzki
Much will also depend on the development of Cooper Flaggwho showed virtually everything during his first season and will inevitably have to raise the bar again.
For Nowitzki, there is one particular area where Flagg can improve: his three-point shooting.
I think he’ll improve his three-point percentage and his outside shooting in general, simply because he’ll become more and more confident. He’s already shown virtually everything else
Dirk Nowitzki
Flagg has already shown that he can make an impact in transition, create mid-range shots, play in the post and operate in pick-and-roll situations. And even some early struggles with ball-handling and turnovers improved as the months went by.
Early on, he had some issues managing the game and with turnovers, but he improved tremendously throughout the season. His decisions became better and quicker
Dirk Nowitzki
For Dirk, then, the picture is fairly clear: Flagg already has the tools to become a complete player on both ends of the floor. If he takes another step as a shooter, his game could open up even further.
He’s a talent who can really do everything on both ends of the floor. The most important thing will be improving his outside shooting. That will give him even more room to attack the rim, create for his teammates and take advantage of all the passes he can make off the dribble
Dirk Nowitzki
Dallas, then, is starting over with plenty of question marks but also two big reasons to be intrigued. Flagg has already shown that he can be the future of the Mavericks, while Irving has to prove he can return to his old form. If those two pieces fit together, the “dangerous combo” Nowitzki talks about could become something more than just an intriguing possibility.