Dirk sees Irving unlocking more ways to use Flagg

What changed

Dirk Nowitzki offered a useful way to frame Cooper Flagg’s second season: Kyrie Irving’s return should make Flagg’s job broader, not merely easier. In an interview with Sunni Upal of The Sun, Nowitzki pointed to Irving’s leadership and playmaking as the piece that can move Flagg off the ball more often.

That creates several versions of the same player. Flagg can still initiate, but Dallas can also use him running in transition, cutting behind defenders or establishing position in the post while Irving bends the first line of the defense.

Friday’s finale gave a glimpse of the pairing’s offensive gravity. The regular season will show whether Dallas can turn that gravity into cleaner catches and simpler decisions for everyone else.