The Kyrie Irving-Cooper Flagg partnership is a 'fun puzzle' for the new-look Mavs — SkimNews
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- Kyrie Irving returned to regular-season action nearly 20 months after tearing his left ACL in March 2025; Houston made trapping him the top priority, and Kevin Durant said the Rockets’ game plan was “all him” in the 128-110 season-opening loss.
- Cooper Flagg scored 32 points in that opener, then recorded 29 points, six rebounds, 11 assists, five steals and three blocks in a road win at Miami, including a block on Andrew Wiggins’ potential go-ahead corner three in the final minute.
- Kyrie Irving and Flagg combined for 47 points and 17 assists in Miami after totaling 27 points and eight assists in a 35-point first-half surge over Indiana; Flagg said Irving’s talent and personality make it easy to play beside him, while Dusty May called the duo a “fun puzzle.”
- Cooper Flagg averaged 21.0 points and 4.5 assists per game as a rookie despite poor spacing and being used out of position at point guard, and his production and efficiency improved dramatically alongside a traditional point guard.
- Kyrie Irving hosted an informal Mavericks minicamp in Southern California in early September, pairing basketball workouts with beach yoga to build camaraderie; he calls Flagg his “19-year-old co-pilot,” and Dusty May said younger players hang on every word from veterans.
- Dallas Mavericks are working to establish a winning culture around Flagg and reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2024 Finals; president Masai Ujiri said he believes Irving can succeed in Dusty May’s new system.
- Kyrie Irving remains the focus of trade speculation because Dallas does not control its own first-round pick for the next four years and leaguewide sources anticipate robust demand for the eight-time All-Star; he says nothing is off the table but has expressed no interest in leaving.
Why it matters: For Dallas, the partnership is already producing: Irving and Flagg combined for 47 points and 17 assists in a Miami road win, with Flagg adding five steals and three blocks. That production comes with a stark roster constraint: the Mavericks have no first-round pick for the next four years, while leaguewide sources anticipate robust trade interest in Irving.
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