2025 No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick Cooper Flagg dealt with some heavy criticism through the early part of his first season with the Dallas Mavericks, and understandably so. Flagg came out of Duke as a can't-miss prospect, regarded as one of the most talented incoming rookies the NBA has seen in recent memory. To begin the season, Flagg struggled with efficiency and turnover issues, which caused the former AP National Player of the Year to receive some heavy backlash, with some fans already prepared to deem Flagg a bust. Obviously, it's impossible to call a rookie a bust with such a small sample size, but that's what comes with being such a hyped up recruit.
This one change has turned Cooper Flagg from bust candidate to young superstar
