Matt Barnes recently revealed he is a huge fan of Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg. According to the one-time NBA champion, Flagg has the tools to be the next big thing because of his motor and all-around skill set.
“I absolutely love Cooper Flagg. I coach my kids in AAU, so I got to see him for one season, and what stood out to me the most was his effort and energy. I came from an era where effort was necessary, and he has one of the best efforts I’ve seen on both sides of the ball,” Barnes said about Flagg on the DLS Mavericks Podcast.
“What excites me most is his defensive prowess. He can be someone in today’s NBA who can guard any position. On offense, he is freakishly athletic and continues to improve his jumper. I am really excited for his future,” he added.
Barnes went on to discuss the Dallas Mavericks’ chances of competing in the Western Conference this upcoming season. Just like most people, he believes that staying healthy throughout the campaign is the key to their fortunes.
Dallas Mavericks News: Matt Barnes names Anthony Davis as the team’s x-factor
In the same podcast, Matt Barnes detailed how a healthy Anthony Davis, who’s recovering from an eye procedure, spells the difference between the Dallas Mavericks winning or losing games.
“His availability is gonna be crucial. His versatility on both ends. They have a tremendous anchor on their defensive backline now along with Cooper Flagg’s athleticism on that backline. His ability to obviously put the ball in the basket, draw double and triple teams, allowing his shooters to do what they do. So, he is going to be the key to this team,” Barnes said about Davis.
“Obviously, Kyrie getting healthy and getting back on the court is going to be very important. But I think Anthony Davis’ availability with this core in the next few years is going to be key,” Barnes concluded,” he added.
