Veteran Khris Middleton jokes he can't teach rookie Cooper Flagg, whose game already surpasses the All-Star's prime abilities.
The Dallas Mavericks made one of the biggest splashes at the trade deadline this season when they dealt Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards. And they got a pretty solid return for the 32-year-old big man.
One of the players they got in the trade was three-time All-Star forward Khris Middleton. And while he could possibly be bought out by the team, Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said that it has been good to have him around.
In a recent interview, Kidd talked a bit about the team's new veteran, and Middleton has evidently been joking about his new mentorship role with the Mavericks superstar rookie, Cooper Flagg.
"I've been talking to him a lot about how he can help Coop," Kidd said. "He feels like he can't help Coop because Cooper has already passed him. He's got a good sense of humor. Just looking at his knowledge and his understanding of the game, it's been great working with Khris."
While the former Duke Blue Devil has been exactly what was advertised before he was drafted number one overall, Middleton back in his prime was no slouch either.
In the 2019-20 season with the Milwaukee Bucks, the former All-Star averaged 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists per game, and he did so as the second option behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, who won MVP that season.
He also did all of that on some great shooting percentages, hitting 50 percent of his shots from the field, and an impressive 41 percent from beyond the arc.
But with all of that being said, Middleton does not think that he has anything that can teach a player like Flagg who is already ahead of schedule in terms of his development.
The 19-year-old rookie is putting up a very similar statline to that of Middleton in one of his All-Star seasons with 20 points, six rebounds, and four assists per game, His shooting from three may leave a bit to be desired, but that is something that will come with time.
There is a chance that Middleton could be bought out by the Mavs and go join a contender in the next day or so. But in the time they do have together, Flagg should do all he can to learn from the three-time All-Star and NBA champion.