There’s no questioning that Cooper Flagg has been one of the brightest performers in the NBA this season. However, it looks like the 19-year-old still has a long way to go before he earns the respect of the league.
Like many NBA players before him, Flagg has been subjected to contentious calls by the referees, urging Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban to criticize the poor officiating standards.
Mark Cuban Slams Refereeing Standards For Mavericks Rookie Cooper Flagg
For those still unfamiliar with Flagg’s game, the Mavericks rookie is an all-around player who can slash to the paint efficiently. Given that playing in the paint often leads to physical play, the likelihood of getting foul calls is higher.
However, in Flagg’s case, he doesn’t seem to be getting the foul calls he deserves. Mavericks minority owner Cuban did not appreciate how poorly his rookie was being treated and went on social media to call out the officials. Citing Jason Kidd’s comments on officiating, Cuban explained the physicality Flagg has to endure.
“(Jason Kidd) also nailed it on the refs. Particularly how they are officiating Coop,” Cuban wrote. “It’s insane. When every touch was a foul, last month, he didn’t get any calls. Then the crew chiefs made the decision there should be more physicality, changing how they call the games mid-season, like they did a couple years ago, so that not only does Coop still not get any calls, he gets HAMMERED more often…It’s still a joke how it’s managed.”
Cuban then urged fans to post clips of referees missing obvious foul calls and tag the NBA officials’ X account, hoping to catch their attention. “We need help from Mavs Nation,” Cuban continued. “When you see an obvious no-call on a drive, post it here, there, and everywhere and tag @OfficialNBARefs”
After the Mavericks’ game against the Houston Rockets on Saturday, Mavericks HC Jason Kidd was vocal about his criticism of the officiating, especially late in the game.
Amid a disappointing season for the Mavericks, who find themselves 11th in the Western Conference with a 19-30 record, Flagg has been a bright spark. Last Thursday, he put up a huge double-double performance against the Charlotte Hornets, adding 49 points and 10 rebounds. Then on Saturday against the Houston Rockets, the rookie had another double-double outing with 34 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists.
The No.1 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft is living up to his potential so far, averaging 19.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 steals, playing 34.0 minutes per game this season.