The new NBA season may be a couple of months from tipping off, but that has not lessened the interest in top rookie Cooper Flagg. The teenager was the number one draft pick and will be representing the Dallas Mavericks as they continue to try to fill the hole left by Los Angeles Lakers-bound star Luka Doncic. The 18-year-old is considered by many as a generational talent, and the pressure will be on the Duke graduate to hit the ground running. This is why the advice imparted by Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki may well prove invaluable. Dallas Mavericks fans who feel that Jason Kidd’s side could secure the franchise’s first title since 2011 can back those hopes with a bet with the help of the best sportsbook promos that are out there. To help you find which ones are available, check here for more information that could aid you in your efforts to secure a big payout.
Flagg’s imminent arrival in the NBA has got many fans excited, and it is surely something of an uphill struggle to keep the youngster level-headed, given all the talk. One player who has been there and has done that is 47-year-old former NBA champion Nowitzki. He spent 21 years as a Dallas Maverick, securing a huge legion of followers, as well as being a 14-time NBA All-Star pick. He has contacted Flagg, offering him some salient advice as he starts what is sure to be a stellar NBA career. On his arrival in the NBA back in 1998, Nowitzki commented.
“It was hard for me. My personality wasn’t, ‘Hey, look at me. I’m the big speech guy. Follow me now.’ I had to grow into it. Learn through some mistakes. I’m not quite sure I can help him with advice. The only thing is to keep your eyes and ears open. Keep learning from your veterans. He’s got some incredible players on the team now with Kyrie, obviously Klay Thompson. AD’s been around forever. There’s so much knowledge there that he can tap into and learn from. Ask questions. How are their pregame routines? What do they eat? How do they prepare for events? What do they do with appearances? How do they interact with the media?” Nowitzki said. “That was key for me at the beginning, watching Michael Finley, who was a true pro. Steve Nash, learning from them. I think that’ll be my advice. Learn as much as you can. Soak it all up, and eventually use it and find your own routine. Find your own way of leading” Nowitzki concluded.
Last season was a bit of a bust for Jason Kidd. Having taken the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2023/24, where they duly lost to the Boston Celtics in five games, Dallas then completed a losing record season, which can be blamed, in part, on the loss of Doncic midway through the campaign. A lot will be expected of both Kidd and Flagg, and only time will tell if they prove to be a winning team for the American Airlines outfit.