Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has voiced concern over the Dallas Mavericks’ decision to play rookie Cooper Flagg at point guard, warning that the move could hinder the No. 1 overall pick’s development and confidence.
Speaking on The Draymond Green Show, the four-time NBA champion drew comparisons to Ben Simmons and urged the Mavericks to reconsider how they’re using their prized rookie.
Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward drafted first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, has been tasked with initiating the Mavericks’ offense amid injuries and roster experimentation. While he’s shown flashes of brilliance, averaging 14.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists through his first eight games, Green believes the burden of playing out of position could backfire.
“It’s hard to play in this league when you don’t have a point guard,” Green said. “They’re trying Cooper at point guard, which I understand. You’re allowing him to play with the ball in his hands. He won’t ultimately be a point guard, but you may believe that that can help his development.”
Green emphasized that while Flagg has elite potential, asking him to run an NBA offense as a rookie is a risky proposition.
“We’re asking a rookie who’s not a point guard to be a great point guard. And that’s just not how this works. You just got to be careful. It’s not his real position.”
Green drew a pointed analogy to former No. 1 pick Ben Simmons, whose career trajectory was altered by being forced into a lead guard role despite his natural fit as a ball-handling forward.
“You ask yourself the question: If Ben Simmons was allowed to be a power forward that can handle the ball the way he handled the ball, does his career turn out differently than making him a point guard? The last thing you want is [Flagg] to lose his confidence trying to play point guard because once you lose your confidence in this league, it’s nearly impossible to get it back.”
Head coach Jason Kidd has experimented with various lineups, including starting Flagg at point guard and bringing D’Angelo Russell off the bench. The team has since adjusted, moving Flagg back to a stretch-forward role and reinstating Russell as the starting point guard.
