The Dallas Mavericks are currently looking towards their second consecutive season in the NBA lottery after their 2024 NBA Finals appearance. Things went pretty well for Dallas the last time he was there, as the team landed the number one overall pick Cooper Flagg, who is currently in the running with former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel for the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Another former Duke player on the Dallas roster is point guard Kyrie Irving, who will miss this season recovering from ACL surgery.
In his absence, the Mavericks have predictably lost some games, but recently, Flagg revealed how Irving has taken on a leadership role despite being on the sidelines.
"He stepped in like a great vet for me and gave me guidance there because there were definitely times when I was shaken up," Flagg said via Ron Harrod Jr. of the Dallas Mavs on Twitter, according to ESPN's NBA Today. "I had never lost so much in my life. But to hear him say that and tell me that I'm doing everything I need to do and to just stick with it and stay positive, it definitely helped me a lot."
Flagg became accustomed to winning during his time as a high school standout and college freshman star, but that has stopped in the NBA, as Dallas opted to blow things up at the trade deadline by trading Anthony Davis.
The expectation is that the Mavericks will be able to add a flag in this year's lottery and another high-level talent to pair with a healthy Irving next year, creating a potential contender in the West.
Clearly, Irving is still finding ways to stay busy despite his struggles this season.
