Just four months back, the Mavs shocked the NBA world when they traded their franchise star, Luka Doncic, to Los Angeles. While many hoped that the basketball gods would punish Dallas for letting a generational talent go, four months later, the Mavs shook up the NBA landscape once again by winning the No.1 pick at the 2025 Draft Lottery. And this time, Dallas is not willing to make any mistakes, as they are prepared to land ‘that kid from Duke.’

Well, let’s be honest, Cooper Flagg being the No. 1 overall pick was never even a question. And with Dallas trading away Doncic, this becomes even more obvious. Just yesterday, when the Mavs’ head coach, Jason Kidd, also confirmed Dallas’ stance on the basketball prodigy. But there is something that he needs to be careful about. One major concern that Jason Kidd & Co. must think about before drafting Duke’s prodigy is his age. To be precise, Cooper Flagg is only 18 years and 5 months old now. In the NBA, players must be at least 19 before teams can draft them. Thus, speaking on DLLS Sports, the 52-year-old head coach shared his concerns.

Kidd openly talked about wanting to bring Flagg to Dallas, spend 48 hours with him, and get to know not only him but also his family. “Well, I think it’s just about the sooner the better that we can get to know him, and he gets to know us,” Jason Kidd shared. “As much as we can bring him here to Dallas, and we have 48 hours with him, we want to be able to ask him questions. We want to get to know not just him, but his parents, to understand that the family is important to know.” While Kidd had all smiles when talking about Flagg’s potential future in Dallas, he may have let too much slip, and now the league might be listening.

Cooper Flagg has not yet become eligible for the NBA Draft as of May 2025, and the league prohibits teams from contacting or publicly expressing interest in players before they qualify. By saying they want to talk to him and his parents at lunch or dinner, Kidd risked implying pre-draft recruitment or strategy, which is a tampering violation.

When he said, “as much as we’re going to talk to Cooper or the kid from Duke—sorry. You know, it’s just he’s not watching,” he immediately backtracked, knowing he may have said too much. The co-host even joked, “Don’t worry.” But Jason Kidd replied, “Yeah, they’re watching for sure. Trust me, this is dealing with the Mavs.” Clearly, he’s aware the league monitors such comments and is concerned about overstepping his bounds, despite Flagg’s reported interest in the Mavs.

Yes, even though Flagg is yet to say a word for the Mavs, per Jonathan Givony of ESPN, “all indications from Flagg’s camp are that he is thrilled with potentially joining a playoff-contending team with strong veterans.” Givony also confirmed that the 18-year-old is already scheduling a visit to Dallas.

Meanwhile, HC Kidd also has an agenda that he is looking forward to. Although he unintentionally gave in to the insights that the Dallas Mavericks might be plotting for Cooper, his emphasis on family time seems to be stealing some spotlight.

Jason Kidd stresses upon spending time with Cooper Flagg’s family in the future

Family is the foundation Kidd refuses to overlook. He knows that to truly understand Cooper Flagg, they must first know the people who raised him. Soon, the Mavericks hope to share meals and moments with Flagg’s parents. This is more than strategy; it is trust in the making. Through these connections, they aim to build a bond that runs deeper than the court. Because in Jason Kidd’s eyes, family shapes the player and the future.

“I think when you talk about getting to know the family, that’s what—hopefully—we can get that opportunity. We’ll have that opportunity in the coming weeks,” Coach Kidd told DLLS Sports. As mentioned earlier, Kidd wants to bring the rising star’s parents to Dallas and spend 48 hours with them. In a way to know their son, who is already making shockwaves in the NBA world.

The future is already calling, and Jason Kidd is listening closely. He knows that drafting Cooper Flagg is more than a decision on paper—it is a commitment to a journey. Yet, Kidd also understands the delicate rules that govern this path. Above all, his focus remains clear: building trust through family ties before the spotlight hits. In this balance of caution and hope, the Mavericks prepare to shape not just a player, but a legacy.