Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki is having a hard time watching his former team amid a 2-7 start this season.
After the Mavs’ 118-104 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Nowitzki called this a “disaster start” and labeled them “tough to watch” because they “can’t shoot” the ball.
Asked what advice he would give to Cooper Flagg right now, Nowitzki did take a more optimistic tone by saying he needs to “try to keep a positive attitude” and “things will be okay” if he keeps working to improve his game.
Entering the season without a true starting point guard raised questions about the offensive ceiling for this Mavericks group. The results have arguably been worse than even the most pessimistic projections.
Dallas ranks last in the NBA in points per game (106.0), offensive rating (103.2), three-pointers made per game (10.1) and 29th in three-point percentage (30.7).
The defense has lived up to expectations so far. They rank sixth in rating and eight in points allowed per game.
Adding to the Mavs’ issues is their injuries are starting to pile up. Kyrie Irving is still out rehabbing the torn ACL he suffered in March. Anthony Davis has missed four straight games with a calf injury. Dereck Lively II hasn’t played since Oct. 26. due to a knee issue.
Flagg and P.J. Washington are the only players who have started all nine games to start the season.
Since the Mavs have opted to go without a traditional point guard, Flagg has served as their primary ball-handler. It’s a smart move for his long-term development so that he gets used to being the focal point for their offense, but it’s incredibly difficult for an 18-year-old to have success with that much responsibility.
All things considered, Flagg is doing a good job playing a position he didn’t play prior to entering the NBA. He is averaging 14.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
Dallas, in theory, will get better later in the season when Irving returns. Kidd has at least suggested it could happen before the end of the calendar year, but there’s no definitive timetable for the nine-time All-Star to play again.
The most important thing for Dallas during the 2025-26 season is Flagg’s development, but the roster that has been built around him doesn’t make much sense because there aren’t a lot of pieces to elevate the offense as he learns the nuances of the NBA game.
Friday’s loss dropped the Mavericks to last in the Western Conference. The only teams worse than them right now are the Indiana Pacers (1-7), Brooklyn Nets (1-8) and Washington Wizards (1-8).
