Dirk Nowitzki Endorses Cooper Flagg's Rookie of the Year Win, Laments Anthony Davis Trade

Key facts

• Cooper Flagg won the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award, beating former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel.
• Flagg led the Mavericks in points, rebounds, assists, and steals as a rookie, a feat achieved by only two other rookies in NBA history.
• Dirk Nowitzki, speaking on Amazon Prime, said Flagg deserved the award despite acknowledging Knueppel could have shared it.
• Flagg, at 19, is the third Maverick to win Rookie of the Year, after Jason Kidd and Luka Doncic.
• The Mavericks traded Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy, and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards for expiring contracts and draft compensation.
• Nowitzki expressed disappointment that the Davis-Flagg pairing never fully materialized, as Davis played only 29 games for Dallas.
• The trade clears $70 million in salary for next season, positioning the Mavericks to build around Flagg.
• Nowitzki remains upset over the earlier trade of Luka Doncic, who was expected to be the franchise's torchbearer.

A Historic Rookie Season Earns Flagg the Top Honor

Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks' star forward, has been named the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year, edging out his former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets in one of the closest races in recent memory. Flagg, selected first overall in the 2025 draft, delivered a season that Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki called "historic." Nowitzki, speaking on the Amazon Prime pregame show, highlighted Flagg's unique versatility: "Started at point guard at 6'9, something he's never done. To me, he's had an incredible year. … He led the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. There's only two other rookies that have ever done it." Flagg, still a teenager at 19, became just the third Maverick to win the award, joining Jason Kidd and Luka Doncic. Flagg himself called the award "everything," reflecting on the intense scrutiny he faced early in the season. "There was a whole lot of hype around Flagg heading into his rookie campaign after Dallas selected him with the top pick in the draft last June. But he lived up to all of it and now he has the hardware to show for it," the report noted.

Nowitzki's Praise Comes With a Dose of Honesty

While Nowitzki wholeheartedly endorsed Flagg's win, he also acknowledged the merit of Knueppel's candidacy. "I don't want to sound like a homer here, which I do anyway. I love Kon and I think they both deserved it. You could have gone co-Rookie of the Year," Nowitzki said. He then explained why Flagg ultimately stood out: "I watched Cooper all year long. The stuff he had to deal with early with all the negativity around and the booing. There was a lot happening in that whole season but the way he kept his head down, worked, got better." Nowitzki's comments underscored the resilience Flagg showed amid early struggles, as the rookie navigated high expectations and external pressure. "Well deserved Cooper, we're proud of you," Nowitzki concluded.

The Davis Trade: A Move for Financial Flexibility

In a separate development, the Mavericks made a significant roster move this week, trading Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy, and Dante Exum to the Washington Wizards. The return was mostly expiring contracts and modest draft compensation, but the deal frees up substantial salary cap space. Davis, Russell, and Hardy were set to earn a combined $70 million next season; the only player Dallas took back with money on the books for next year is AJ Johnson, still on his rookie contract. Nowitzki, now part of the Amazon Prime studio show, addressed the trade with a mix of understanding and disappointment. "Well, I'll tell you one thing, I think the Mavs fans are happy with this. I think they didn't want to be reminded of what happened a year ago in the Luka trade," he said. "So, to me, looking at this deal at first glance, there's not a lot that came back for picks or player-wise. So this is all really about financial flexibility for the future."

A Promising Duo Cut Short

Nowitzki expressed particular regret that the partnership between Davis and Flagg never had a chance to flourish. "I'm a little disappointed, obviously. I think when AD actually played with Cooper, they played off each other really, really well. I think that was a solid combo, but we'll never know," he said. Davis, acquired in the trade for Luka Doncic, played only 29 of a possible 85 games for the Mavericks due to injuries, a recurring issue in his career. The limited sample size left fans and analysts wondering what might have been. Nowitzki noted that the trade signals a clear direction: "I think what this ultimately is now is built around Cooper. Go young. See what the next year brings, with what the draft brings this summer. So ultimately now they're all in on Cooper Flagg and his future, and that's what they're going to build around."

The Lingering Shadow of the Luka Doncic Trade

Beyond the Davis deal, Nowitzki remains deeply affected by the franchise's decision to trade Luka Doncic a year earlier. Doncic was widely expected to follow in Nowitzki's footsteps as the face of the Mavericks, with a statue alongside Dirk's one day. The trade that sent Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Davis never yielded the expected return, as Davis's injury woes limited his impact. Nowitzki's disappointment is palpable. The Mavericks, once projected to be a second-apron team, are now completely under the salary cap for next season. The return for Davis—expiring contracts and minimal draft picks—reflects the diminished value of a player with his age, contract, and injury history. "Realistically, this is the best they were ever going to get for Davis," the report noted.

A Franchise Rebuilt Around Its Young Star

With the Davis trade, the Mavericks have committed fully to building around Cooper Flagg. The team has shed significant salary obligations and gained flexibility to pursue future moves, including a potentially impactful draft this summer. Nowitzki's analysis suggests the franchise is entering a new era centered on Flagg's development. The decision to trade Davis, while financially prudent, closes the chapter on a short-lived experiment. For Nowitzki, the hope is that Flagg can carry the torch that Doncic was supposed to hold. "They got rid of some contracts that were not favorable for the franchise," Nowitzki said, acknowledging the business rationale even as he mourns the lost potential.

What Lies Ahead for the Mavericks

As the Mavericks pivot to a youth movement, the focus turns to Flagg's continued growth and the team's draft strategy. Nowitzki's endorsement carries weight, but the franchise faces questions about how quickly it can return to contention. The trade leaves Dallas with a thin roster and limited immediate assets, but significant cap space. For Flagg, the Rookie of the Year award is just the beginning. He has already proven he can handle the pressure of being the No. 1 pick and the centerpiece of a storied franchise. Nowitzki's message—"Well deserved Cooper, we're proud of you"—captures the sentiment of a fanbase eager to see their new star lead the way.

The bottom line

• Cooper Flagg won the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year, leading the Mavericks in four major statistical categories as a 19-year-old.
• Dirk Nowitzki publicly endorsed Flagg's award, citing his resilience and historic numbers.
• The Mavericks traded Anthony Davis to the Wizards for expiring contracts, prioritizing financial flexibility over a short-lived Davis-Flagg pairing.
• Nowitzki expressed disappointment that the Davis trade ended the potential of a strong duo, but acknowledged the move clears $70 million in salary.
• The franchise is now fully committed to building around Flagg, with a focus on the upcoming draft and future cap space.
• The shadow of the Luka Doncic trade continues to influence Nowitzki's and fans' perspectives on the team's direction.