Mavericks GM Mike Schmitz said there is "no concern" about pairing 34-year-old Kyrie Irving with 19-year-old Cooper Flagg, calling Flagg's versatility the key to the fit.
Mike Schmitz brushed off concerns about the age gap between Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks general manager said this week, as rival executives have started to question whether the pair can work given their different career stages.
Schmitz, appearing on WFAA's "Ultimate Dallas Sports Show," was asked directly about the gap between Irving and Flagg. He responded with a flat denial.
"No, no, no concern there," Schmitz said. "Cooper is 19 years old, but he plays like a grizzled veteran, just with the way he impacts the game in so many different ways. And so, he's not a normal 19-year-old and, you know, we're very aware of that and just excited to continue to do everything we can to maximize him and obviously, Kyrie is a massive part of that."
The remarks come during the Mavericks' transition under new team president Masai Ujiri and Schmitz, who was hired earlier this month. Dallas has also been searching for a new head coach since parting with Jason Kidd last week.
Schmitz framed Irving as a central figure in that transition.
"You've heard Masai talk about Kyrie even at the press conference the other day, and I think he quoted Kevin Durant saying there's only one Kyrie Irving, and he's right," Schmitz said. "It's really, really difficult to find that level of talent, who's done it at the highest level year after year, who can create offense, who can play on the ball, off the ball. Ball magician with the basketball in his hands."
Schmitz also spoke to how the Mavericks plan to build around Flagg. The rookie's versatility, he said, is what lets the team pair him with a wide range of veterans, Irving included.
"With a guy like Cooper in particular, what makes him a player that you can fit different pieces around is because he's so versatile," Schmitz said. "He can play in a million different ways. You can create the majority of your offense, he can play off the ball, he can spot up, he can crash, he can cut, he can handle, he can push in transition, and he guards multiple positions."
Irving played 50 games in the 2024-25 season before tearing his ACL, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. He missed all of the 2025-26 season recovering from the injury. Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 70 games as a rookie.
The age gap has drawn outside attention. HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported earlier this week that league executives have wondered how long Irving and Flagg can co-exist given their differing timelines.
Schmitz's comments matched what the front office has already signaled about keeping Irving in Dallas. Ujiri has said publicly that decisions going forward will be made around Flagg's long-term development, but the organization has not indicated it intends to entertain trade interest in Irving.
The Mavericks do not control their own first-round pick again until 2031, outside of a Lakers pick they hold in 2029.
