Mark Cuban believes rookie forward Cooper Flagg could be a Dallas Mavericks cornerstone for decades to come.

Cuban, the Mavericks minority owner, said in a recent interview that Flagg has “all the tools to be an immediate success” but needs to continue working on his outside shot. He suggested the 18-year-old could one day be a “25-year veteran” with the franchise.

“And when you have a jack of all trades like that, that also has a motor and has toughness to them, and is a worker and is 18 years old… I mean, is he going to come in and score 30 a game? No, I think J-Kidd will put the reins on him slowly,” Cuban said. “Coop’s the real deal. He’s not even 19 years old. I mean, he could literally, depending on science, play for the Mavs for 25 years.”

Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, starred at Duke before arriving in Dallas. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 37 games, leading the Blue Devils in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and blocks. He shot 48.1% from the field, 38.5% from 3-point range and 84.0% at the free-throw line. His season included a record-setting 42-point performance.

He carried that momentum into NBA Summer League, where head coach Jason Kidd challenged him to handle point guard duties. Flagg averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in two games, highlighted by a 31-point effort against the San Antonio Spurs. Kidd said he wanted Flagg to get “uncomfortable” in a lead ball-handling role, drawing on his past experience developing Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.

Flagg embraced the challenge.

“I’m coming in just trying to learn and get better every single day,” he said during Summer League. “It’s a versatile position, doing a lot of different things. Looking at the roster, we can play a really good brand of positionless basketball.”

Kidd has emphasized patience, telling Flagg that mistakes and turnovers will be part of his growth as a primary initiator. The Mavericks see his playmaking ability as central to their long-term vision, particularly alongside veteran Anthony Davis, acquired in the midseason trade for Luka Doncic.

Flagg enters the NBA with expectations rivaling those of Victor Wembanyama and Zion Williamson in recent years. Cuban’s projection of a 25-year career reflects the franchise’s optimism, with the Mavericks banking on Flagg’s skill, toughness and maturity to lead them well into the future.