Before even stepping onto an NBA court, Cooper Flagg is already making headlines, not just for his talent, but for his tech-savvy approach to team chemistry.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is using NBA 2K26 to simulate his fit alongside Dallas Mavericks teammates Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, embracing virtual strategy to prepare for real-world impact.
With Irving sidelined due to an ACL injury and Davis managing his workload, Flagg has turned to the hyper-realistic AI of NBA 2K26 to study movement, spacing, and playmaking dynamics. According to Ronnie Singh (aka Ronnie 2K), Flagg has been “shaping up how he’s going to fit into that team” by running simulations with his future All-Star teammates.
“He might not get to play with Kyrie for a minute, so it’s kind of cool that he gets to simulate that, see how the off-the-ball movement is,” Singh said. “Our AI is so good. It really simulates the authentic experience of being on the court.”
Flagg’s use of NBA 2K26 isn’t just for fun, it’s a strategic move to shorten the learning curve. With Irving’s elite ball-handling and Davis’s post dominance, Flagg is studying how to complement their styles, whether it’s timing backdoor cuts or spacing the floor for pick-and-pop sets.
With Luka Dončić now in Los Angeles and the Mavericks in full rebuild mode, Flagg is stepping into a massive spotlight. His rookie rating of 82 already places him third on the team behind Davis (93) and Irving (90), and Dallas could be on the verge of forming a new Big Three.
Flagg’s embrace of NBA 2K26 as a training tool isn’t just innovative, it’s emblematic of a new generation of athletes who blend digital and physical preparation. If his virtual instincts translate to the hardwood, the Mavericks may have found their next franchise cornerstone.
