Jason Kidd’s thoughts on Cooper Flagg’s debut + Kyrie Irving’s status | NBA Summer League

Jason Kidd’s thoughts on Cooper Flagg’s debut + Kyrie Irving’s status | NBA Summer League

It has been a tremendous first half that we’ve seen here from from Cooper Flag in terms of just the sheer number of minutes he’s played as well. What have been your first impressions? Are we playing too too many minutes? I don’t think so. I’m not going to say that. I’ve been loving it. It’s kind of fun to get him see some real burn. Yeah, I think Cooper’s done an incredible job with all the minutes. Uh he’s handled the ball. He’s got viable job for teammates. Uh he’s finished. I think you’ve seen a lot of what he can do in this league. I got to ask you about that fast break dunk that he had his first points on the board. You were sitting baseline as he went up for that shot. What was your vantage point? I had a great seat. Um I got excited uh to see number 32 get an easy one and it was with a dunk, but again he’s shown that he can handle the press. Uh I thought the Lakers uh sent the double team on the first play of the game. I think that’s out of respect. I think it is as well. That was something I was wondering if we were going to see maybe a little bit more of point coupe. Is that something that you’re planning to employ particularly as you wait for Kyrie Irving to get healthy with your squad? Yeah, I think when you have someone like Cooper who can handle, who can shoot, who can pass, uh you want the ball in his hands and so he’s a great decision maker. He did that at Duke and also in high school. So, you get to see it tonight. Uh he’s going to have some mistakes. We all did. We all threw it in the stands once in a while, but I think just his poise as a 18-year-old is is incredible. Yeah, I think that’s what’s really amazing. He’s this the youngest player in this draft and the professionalism that he’s shown. It’s been pretty awesome to see. Just your overall impressions postdraft coming out of of your camp. It seems like everyone is just over the moon about him. Uh you got to give his family uh his mom and dad credit and his brothers just understanding uh they’ve done an incredible job with this young man. uh off the floor. When you talk to him, you forget that he’s 18. Uh he loves basketball. Uh the one thing I thought he said in his press conference is that he played outside. You don’t hear a lot of kids talk about playing outside and then also growing up in Maine, it could be a little nippy, could be a little cold. Uh but it just shows his toughness and uh I’m again as a coach, but I think the Dallas organization is very excited to have this opportunity. That’s an important PSA. more kids just go outside until the lights come on. Make sure that you’re just out there playing. It’s very, very important. Last question before I let you go, coach. There’s been a really impressive Dallas Mavericks contingent here. A lot of players showing up, including Kyrie Irving. Can you give us an update on his status and what it means to have so many of your players here to watch your summer league squad? Yeah, we have a lot of players here, our owners here. Uh the organization again is excited about uh what we have in Cooper Flag, but also the Eloquest. Kai being a vet being here. Uh the rehab is going well. Uh he’s smiling. He’s in a good place and uh we can’t wait for him to get back. Jason, we always appreciate the time. Thank you so much. I don’t want to take up too much away from you being able to watch this second half here between the Los Angeles Lakers. This is incredible. My summer league games, they were for free. I was going to say the crowd here, the energy, it has been absolutely electric. This is a summer league unlike many that we have seen before. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

I interviewed Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd at halftime of Cooper Flagg’s Summer League debut against the Los Angeles Lakers.