Lakers legend Michael Cooper is walking back a long-held stance on Larry Bird’s supremacy after getting an early look at Cooper Flagg in Dallas. In a recent VladTV clip, the five-time NBA champion said he would “take those words back” about Bird being the most complete player he ever saw, calling the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft “very special.” The comment arrives as the Dallas Mavericks ask Flagg to moonlight at point guard during a shaky first weeks-long stretch.
Michael Cooper Walks Back Larry Bird Take After Cooper Flagg’s Start
Cooper’s remarks came in a VladTV interview where the Hall of Fame defender praised Bird’s completeness but quickly pivoted to Flagg, saying he’d revise that opinion after watching the Dallas rookie. The acknowledgement elevates an already white‑hot spotlight on Flagg, the Mavericks’ top pick who entered the league after a decorated one-and-done season at Duke.
Early returns have been mixed. Flagg has flashed the processing speed, anticipation and defensive rotations that made him a consensus No. 1 selection, but his efficiency has lagged as the Mavericks experiment with him on the ball. Even so, coaches and former players have highlighted his passing vision and poise — traits that usually take years to surface in wings this young.
What Cooper’s praise means: When a five-time champion known for guarding elite wings puts Flagg in the same breath as Larry Bird, it signals respect for Flagg’s all-court impact — not just scoring. It also reframes Dallas’ patience as a development plan rather than panic.
Why the Mavericks Are Letting Flagg Learn at Point Guard
Jason Kidd has handed Flagg extended on-ball reps to accelerate his feel in Dallas’ five-out looks. The growing pains are obvious: turnovers under pressure, hesitant pull‑ups, and a modest field‑goal percentage through the first half‑dozen games. But the learning curve comes with payoffs the Mavericks value — quicker reads in delay actions, better weak‑side tagging, and touch passes that keep tempo.
Flagg is currently averaging 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and three assists a game, while shooting low percentages from the field and three-point line (37% and 29%, respectively). That’s a pretty solid production without efficiency coming into play yet, suggesting Flagg has a high ceiling once he figures it out. He’s also playing without All-NBA talents in Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, so this is likely as difficult a stretch as he’ll face this season. Once the talent around Flagg improves, his numbers are likely to spike.
Film takeaways from the first two weeks:
Passing windows: Flagg is already throwing advance‑passes to the corners against loaded boxes, a positive sign for scaling usage.
Defensive activity: His weak‑side rim contests and dig‑and‑recover sequences are NBA‑caliber; the footwork is ahead of schedule, though foul discipline must improve.
Shooting base: The lower‑body mechanics drift on contested pull‑ups; Dallas is working to simplify his base on above‑the‑break 3s.
The bottom line: Cooper’s comment doesn’t crown Flagg as the next Bird — and Heavy isn’t doing that either. It does show that respected voices see starter‑kit traits of a multi‑tool wing who can influence wins while the scoring catches up.
What’s Next for Flagg & Dallas
Dallas needs to reduce Flagg’s degree of difficulty. Expect more second‑side touches, Spain actions to create simple reads, and connecting minutes next to a stabilizing lead guard. If the rim attempts and free throws tick up, the efficiency will follow. In the meantime, Flagg’s quotes have stayed steady: he’s trusting the work, owning the transition, and keeping the focus on reps over results.
Big picture for Dallas: A patient runway with the No. 1 pick is the correct call. If Flagg’s passing keeps popping and the Mavericks normalize his role, the early‑season lumps could age as essential context for a rookie‑year leap after the All‑Star break.
Lakers’ 5‑Time Champ Makes Lofty Cooper Flagg Comparison