Rookie Cooper Flagg praises rising guard Ryan Nembhard's impact, finding unexpected stability and offensive ease amidst Mavericks' turbulent season.
DALLAS — With the Dallas Mavericks stuck near the bottom of the Western Conference and searching for answers at 8–15, one bright spot has emerged from a rocky start: the on-court chemistry forming between rookie forward Cooper Flagg and undrafted guard Ryan Nembhard.
Flagg, thrust into an early-season role that included stints at point guard, has grown increasingly comfortable since Nembhard earned a promotion into the starting lineup. And for a team grappling with injuries, lineup reshuffling and fan frustration, their connection has become a rare source of stability.
Flagg made the impact clear after a recent game, offering unusually candid praise for the 22-year-old guard who has quickly established himself as a foundational piece of Dallas’ future.
In describing what it’s been like to play alongside Nembhard, Flagg paused before highlighting how seamlessly the two have meshed.
“Ryan’s just the type of player where it’s just easy to be alongside,” Flagg said. “He just makes everybody better out there… I love playing with Ryan… He’s a great player and a great person.”
The Mavericks began the season without a true point guard solution, cycling through lineups that left spacing cramped and turnovers unavoidable. Flagg’s brief experiment at the position underscored the need for a steady ballhandler. Nembhard, who arrived as an undrafted rookie, has since pulled the offense into shape through pace control, rim pressure and efficient decision-making.
Flagg said their shared rookie experience has only strengthened the connection.
“Me, Ryan, Miles as well, Moussa. The four of us coming in here, even though we’re all at different stages of our lives…” he said, before explaining that the bond extends well beyond playmaking or X’s and O’s.
“We’re all kinda going through the same thing, you’re a rookie together, and you’re only a rookie once. Just trying to build that continuity and go through it together and not feel like we’re alone out here…”
But it’s not just the partnership with Nembhard that has helped Flagg settle in. The presence of veterans Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson has changed how defenses approach the Mavericks, giving the rookie room to operate in a way that wasn’t possible during the season’s turbulent opening weeks.
Flagg emphasized how their gravity has elevated his offensive opportunities.
“I think just between him [AD] and Klay on the court at the same time, the amount of gravity that those two guys have, just pulling defenses toward them, and kind of just creating space out there,” Flagg said. “I mean, it’s huge for me.”
Flagg added that Davis’ ability to command double-teams has reshaped his decision-making.
“Guys are going to double him, I’m now finding cutting lanes, kind of playing offense,” he said. “It’s just, it’s been a treat for me to kind of be alongside him [AD], and he just made our team so much better.”
Nembhard’s rise has only amplified these gains. Since stepping into the starting role, he has steadied Dallas’ offense in ways few rookies manage. His rim pressure, ball security and defensive competitiveness have offered Jason Kidd something the Mavericks lacked throughout the first month: a guard who can initiate actions without compromising the system.
His performance has also sparked debate among fans about how he fits into the long-term structure—particularly once Kyrie Irving returns from an ACL injury. Many have argued that Nembhard should remain a starter regardless, citing the possibility of sliding Irving to shooting guard.
Whether that configuration materializes remains a question for later in the season. For now, Kidd appears committed to letting Flagg and Nembhard develop as the franchise’s young core learns how to shoulder responsibility amid losses.
And while the Mavericks continue to chase consistency, Flagg’s endorsement underscores why Nembhard’s emergence has become one of the few certainties in a season defined by turbulence.
“He just makes everybody better out there,” Flagg said again, the message unmistakable.
For a team searching for direction, that may be as valuable as anything on the stat sheet.