Welcome back to this week’s edition of The Morning Dunk!
Last week, I discussed the Memphis Grizzlies at length and how that team has surpassed expectations in being ahead of schedule.
Cooper Flagg has forced a similar discussion in terms of how he’s produced for the Dallas Mavericks, arguably at a superstar level.
What’s driving his development from his rookie year to the beginning of this season? How high is he ascending up the ladder? And how has Kyrie Irving helped Flagg take those next steps forward in his sophomore campaign?
Let’s go through the latest storylines around the NBA’s young players, starting with Mr. Flagg himself!
This article was written as of Sunday afternoon, 11/1/26
The Slam Dunk: Cooper Flagg’s Superstar Ascension
No story has been hotter in the NBA than Cooper Flagg over the last week.
What he’s been doing as a second-year player is nothing short of spectacular. Every team dreams of the chance to draft not only a franchise player, but a jumbo wing who can create offense for himself and others.
Well, Flagg has been doing just that at an extraordinarily high level alongside another top offensive guard in Kyrie Irving, who has benefitted throughout his career from playing alongside another initiator who can take pressure off Irving as a distributor.
And for Flagg, Irving’s presence has without question taken some pressure off his shoulders too. During his rookie season, no secondary scorer commanded the defense’s attention the way Irving does alongside him. Flagg was put in a difficult position as a rookie, operating as the team’s de facto point guard while also commanding high usage as a secondary creator, even as the coaching staff figured it was best to still start a more traditional lead guard next to Cooper.
Inefficiency was part of Flagg’s overall story on offense, and not just from three-point range, where he’s still struggled to establish himself even to start this season. Flagg struggled to create efficient offense from a standstill, and was much better when he could catch the ball going downhill and make a play from there.
Fast forward to this season, and that’s still the case, but he's already improved significantly as a primary pick-and-roll ball handler. Per Synergy Sports, Flagg currently rates in the 70th percentile in terms of scoring out of PnR sets as the ball handler, and he’s at a hyper-efficient 1.21 points per possession in isolation scoring sets as well. Flagg is generating higher-quality shots for himself, primarily coming off an improved handle to break down that initial defender up top, and position himself for a mid-range pull-up OR his patented floater in the lane.
That’s an important distinction because Flagg isn’t trying to settle for many jumpers off the dribble from above the break. He’s 2-for-10 on OTD 3P looks per Synergy, while shooting a remarkable 16-for-21 on pull-up 2P shots. He’s also converted a high percentage of his looks around the rim, meaning Flagg’s aggressiveness as a scorer inside the arc has benefited both him and the Mavericks, as his overall production has skyrocketed compared to where he was at this time last year during his rookie season.
These aren’t just outlier marks in terms of growth. Flagg’s overall sharp increase in production compared to his rookie start, and even where he finished last season, is fueled by repeatable forms of shot selection and scoring touch. Not many players can say their go-to shot is one of incredible difficulty the way Flagg's runner in the lane is, but he’s mastered that pull-up shot in a way few players his size have in recent history.
Finishing through contact and converting from tough angles inside the arc is critical not just to regular-season success, but to winning in the postseason as well. Flagg’s improvements in these areas will certainly be tested in future playoff runs to come, but the growth in such a short amount of time is a welcome sight for Dallas Mavericks fans.
Let’s give credit where credit is due, though. For much of his rookie season, Flagg was ridiculed for his play on the ball, and the Mavericks front office was ridiculed just as much for asking so much of Cooper so early in his career. The “Point Flagg” experiment was run through the mud, so much so that most media (myself included) shifted the rookie of the year conversation toward Kon Knueppel.
But without those struggles on the ball, and learning how to operate within lineups that didn’t always favor Flagg’s strengths, he wouldn’t be in the position he is now. Dallas has a better supporting cast around Flagg, even with Irving’s injection into the lineup. This team’s early success has other reasons as well, and I’ll get to Zaccharie Risacher another time if he continues his impressive two-way stretch of play. But Flagg has navigated so many rough patches as a rookie, shouldering unfair levels of responsibility, which helped him prepare for a sophomore leap that’s looking like one of the best we’ve seen from recent No. 1 overall picks in the NBA Draft.
Before I show you what those results look like, though, there's one more aspect of Flagg’s game I want to touch on that’s directly contributed to Dallas’ early success that’s not just from an improved scoring average and efficiency.
In Flagg’s first five games as a rookie, he had tallied 14 total assists. To start this season, he’s already at 33 assists to 16 turnovers, which is better than 2:1 as a distributor. Cooper’s comfort as an on-ball operator, along with having another player that the defense has to respect in Irving, has led to more chances for Flagg to actually dish the rock on some of his drives to the rim rather than settle every time for a tough shot or poor result from multiple defenders being able to load up on him.
Irving can go for 30+ on any given night. You can’t bring help consistently onto Flagg from the other side of the court and NOT feel the effect of either a direct catch-and-shoot opportunity from Kyrie OR a cut/move to step into a scoring opportunity off a Flagg assist. And those threats, when the defense chooses to pressure Flagg, open other passing lanes for the rest of his teammates. That shift in gravity and defensive attention has empowered Flagg to make the best possible basketball play routinely. He ranks in the 81st percentile in possessions plus assists on offense in the NBA, and he’s done all of this without a true three-point stroke under his belt yet.
So how strong of a start to his second year are we seeing from Flagg compared to the rest of his top-pick peers?
I’d say the above graphic says it all. None of the recent top picks since Zion Williamson have accelerated to where Flagg is so early on in their second seasons. If Flagg were shooting a bit better from three-point range, I’d venture to say he’s breaking down more barriers than just standing out amongst his peers. Heck, even without that 3P shot, I’d still make the argument he’s on the doorstep of some impressive accomplishments this season, including an All-Star nod.
Before the 2025 draft, conversations around Flagg pointed to him becoming one of the best players in the NBA at some point. Those conversations were well warranted, even now. He’s ahead of schedule in the eyes of NBA fans and evaluators. Could he already be a Top 25 player in the NBA? Top 20? Top 15?
Whatever his ceiling is, I’m confident Flagg will smash through it, and it might be sooner than we all think given his impressive growth trajectory.
Rookie Spotlight
AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards
Welcome to the NBA, AJ Dybantsa!
After an injury to start the year, Dybantsa finally made his debut last week, and didn’t disappoint as the No. 1 overall pick from the 2026 NBA Draft.
In two games, AJ is scoring 18 PPG on 56.5% shooting from the field, despite a pedestrian mark from three. He’s also converting free throws at 88.9%, having gotten to the line 9 times in those two games.
He looks so natural on the court with the ball in his hands. That play against the Cleveland Cavaliers where he had to spin and contort his way into a baseline floater was magic, and there are plenty more examples of footwork like that on film from lower levels of competition. Dybantsa is a crafty scorer getting downhill, so long as he doesn’t settle for TOO many mid-range jumpers.
And speaking of shot quality, Synergy Sports has him logged at a 1.4 Synergy Shot Quality marker, meaning what’s the expected points per shot from the looks that AJ is taking to start this season. His total PPS mark is 1.7, meaning he’s exceeding excellent shot quality and actually converting on those attempts. I wouldn’t expect these numbers to stay where they are past his first couple of games, but this speaks to Washington’s offensive balance and how they’ve been able to incorporate him into the structure.
Trae Young is on the floor to handle the ball primarily and make decisions for others. Anthony Davis is a premier scoring outlet, even if shot selection and quality are debatable. That takes immense pressure off Dybantsa, with two real veteran All-Stars in the lineup to run sets through. But even Dybantsa’s other supporting cast members like Kyshawn George can handle the ball and make real decisions on the move. AJ doesn’t have to be force-fed the rock and asked to take the Wizards somewhere right out of the gate, so he can explore the studio space at his own pace and keep figuring out which shots are good within Washington’s offense and which are ill-advised attempts.
Let’s see if Dybantsa can keep walking that tightrope effectively, but right now, it’s working for both him and the Wizards.
Keaton Wagler, LA Clippers
One of my favorite watches to start the season in terms of NBA rookies has been Keaton Wagler. He’s gone a bit under the radar compared with guys like Yaxel Lendeborg, Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, and Darius Acuff rocking right out of the gate, but there are a few key things to note about Wagler through his first few weeks.
First, I think he's been able to get to his spots on the floor quite well. As advertised before the 2026 draft, Wagler’s footwork was a key ingredient to his meteoric rise up draft boards. Having the ability to navigate in tight spaces and get to shots in the midrange or at the rim without turning the ball over was a massive part of his appeal as a 6’6” lead guard.
Even though Wagler’s efficiency hasn’t been something to write home about early on, he's stayed composed in traffic and has played TOUGH when he’s had to. He’s embraced drawing contact and getting to the line, and isn’t backing down from going right into the chest of defenders on drives even when his shot isn’t falling.
I fully expect Wagler to find his efficiency from the perimeter as the season goes on, since he’s such a talented pull-up shooter. But Wagler’s biggest question mark before the draft was how he struggled to finish at the rim against true physicality in college when he couldn’t draw the whistle. Well, he’s finding the charity stripe in the league and isn’t backing down from the next challenge: getting stronger and better absorbing contact to finish as this season goes on.
Kingston Flemings, Atlanta Hawks
I spoke last week about how well Darius Acuff has started the season for the Sacramento Kings. For my money, he’d be a sure-fire pick for the All-Rookie First Team at this point.
But in terms of playing the point guard position and looking ready for more responsibility early on? Few guards who have made their debuts have made that case more clear than Kingston Flemings.
I’ve watched Flemings’ minutes for the Atlanta Hawks in his last few games, and he looks so poised out there, as if he was still on a college court in Houston.
His ability to get to those mid-range pull-up shots, find players on the move, and defend at the point of attack has helped swing some runs in Atlanta’s favor when he’s come off the bench. Not every outing has been perfect, but it helps to have a guard who is by no means a target on defense, a caretaker of the ball, and a fearless shot maker.
I want to keep watching Flemings develop and toggle between on-and-off ball threat alongside players like CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, as well as Dyson Daniels. But in the minutes I’ve seen of Flemings, he looks ready to rock, and I hope the Hawks keep empowering him as one of the first players off the bench nightly.
Trevon Brazile, Denver Nuggets
Watching Trevon Brazile sky above the rim and throw it down reminds me of another player who wore a Denver Nuggets uniform some years ago: Chris Anderson.
I remember “The Birdman” fondly as an athletic presence around the rim who made highlight dunks and blocks all the time during some great years in Denver. Are we seeing history repeat itself a little bit with Brazile?
The best plays you’ll see on social will come back to those dunks and blocks Brazile can get to more easily than most forwards his size, but I’ve been so impressed with his rebounding. Brazile’s motor and willingness to keep possessions alive and end them on the defensive glass are something this Nuggets team didn’t have off the bench last season.
He won't shut down opposing bigs outright because of his lack of bulk and strength, and his three-point shot hasn’t quite developed to where it was at the end of his college career. But he’s one of the leaders for rookies in both minutes and rebounds, which is pointing to a clear role for Brazile on a contending Western Conference team that desperately needs injections of youth and athleticism. I’m excited to keep tabs on Brazile as this season goes on.
Sophomore Spotlight
Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are currently playing at the second-fastest pace in the NBA per Basketball-Reference, and that’s most certainly helping Jeremiah Fears take steps forward and build confidence early in his second season.
Fears is dishing out dimes like crazy, even though he hasn’t seen a spike in scoring efficiency as we’d expect.
From the field, Fears is in line overall, but is shooting worse from three and from the free-throw line. That hasn’t come back to bite him yet because he’s done a great job at getting others involved, dishing 20 assists in two games this past week, with a lot of those plays coming in transition or from early sets in the shot clock.
Limiting the reads Fears has to make when he has the ball in his hands simplifies his process, while also letting him attack the basket naturally and generate paint touches off easy actions. And there are guys on this team who are built to play fast, or let the ball go quick and often, such as Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III, respectively.
I’m also a big fan of Fears starting the break himself by crashing the defensive glass. He’s grabbed four or more rebounds in four of the Pelicans' five games so far, and those extra efforts matter in getting players the ball in advantageous spots. In Fears’ case, getting that rebound and pushing puts him in a position to make a great play for himself or someone else.
And when Fears has kept those transition drives to himself, he’s scored efficiently. New Orleans has to figure out how to use Fears in more creative ways in the halfcourt so he can convert on better than 39% of those looks, but simplifying the game plan for Fears while continuing to play at a fast pace is a great place for this team to start with his second year of development.
Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz
Ace Bailey becoming a corner-crashing fiend wasn’t on my bingo card for early season developmental callouts, but I absolutely love it for both him and the Utah Jazz.
Bailey has been awesome at extending possessions on the offensive glass and giving himself extra scoring opportunities beyond off-ball shooting and drives from the slot.
He’s even had chances to make plays and pass out of those offensive rebounds, which has helped keep the ball moving and create three-point opportunities. There’s never a better time to shoot a three than off an offensive rebound.
We’ve also seen Ace take on tougher defensive assignments on the wing, especially when Utah has played smaller given the injuries to Jusuf Nurkic. Now Jaren Jackson Jr. Bailey needs to keep rebounding next to Lauri Markkanen and Jaxon Hayes, while also doing his part to limit mistakes and hit shots on the other end of the floor. Utah isn’t off to a good start this season, but there’s plenty of time to turn the year around despite the injuries. And the Jazz will need every bit of the best of Bailey to do so.
Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are off to a blazing start in the Western Conference, sitting undefeated at 6-0 as of this column. Ty Jerome has taken a large share of the spotlight for good reason alongside NBA Rookie of the Year contender Cameron Boozer, but let’s not forget Cedric Coward’s contributions on the wing.
I can’t necessarily say he’s shown any new developments in his game that we didn’t see last year, but he does feel a bit more “on time,” if that makes sense. He’s seeing the floor more clearly as an off-ball mover, his threes feel like they’re getting out of his hands quicker, and he’s been excellent at providing another source of rebounding on the wing for the Grizzlies, beating other perimeter players to spots and boxing out.
Coward will always be a factor defensively with his 7’2” wingspan and good instincts to play passing lanes. But seeing him be a real glue guy and solidify Memphis’ efforts on both ends of the floor while showing flashes here and there of doing a bit more off the dribble like he did last season is just what the doctor ordered for this young Grizzlies core.
I will want to see Coward continue to progress as a secondary ball handler and off-the-dribble shot maker, but right now, I really can’t complain with his effort. Praise is justified for Coward as he’s being a star in his role, and that’s more than enough to fuel Memphis’ winning efforts.
No Ceilings Standouts
2026-27 Two-Way Contract Breakout Candidates: Sophomores
October 2026 NBA Fantasy Roundtable
International Snapshot: Adam Atamna | 2027 NBA Draft
International Snapshot: Mario Saint-Supery | 2027 NBA Draft
International Snapshot: Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada | 2027 NBA Draft
What I’m Watching Next Week
Tuesday 11/3, Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs: Is there really another answer here in terms of what I’m paying attention to? Cooper Flagg against Victor Wembanyama on a Tuesday night? I’m absolutely there. Keep an eye on how Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle respond to this challenge defensively, especially against Kyrie Irving. The Spurs are a defensive juggernaut with Wembanyama, Castle, and Harper all on the floor together.
Friday 11/6, UConn vs. Michigan: COLLEGE BASKETBALL IS BACK!!! By the time you’re reading this, we will have seen a MASSIVE Monday slate of college hoops, but UConn-Michigan early in the season is as good as it gets. I’m as intrigued by the new blood in Connecticut as any other program in the country, with Na’jai Hines and Colben Landrew immediately grabbing my attention. DO NOT sleep on the Wolverines, as Trey McKenney could take a lottery leap this season alongside some other talented guards and some underrated bigs transferring in between JP Estrella and Moustapha Thiem.
Friday 11/6, Toronto Raptors vs. Milwaukee Bucks: I haven’t watched much Milwaukee Bucks basketball yet, but we’ve already seen Nate Ament and Brayden Burries get good minutes off the bench as rookies. I’m also interested to see Kasparas Jakucionis up against a talented defensive front in Toronto, led by Scottie Barnes and rising sophomore Collin Murray-Boyles.
Sunday 11/8, Arkansas vs. Virginia: The top prospect on the early No Ceilings 2027 NBA Draft board is suiting up in this early-season matchup against Virginia. Jordan Smith Jr. is guaranteed to put on a defensive clinic against any backcourt he faces. With other defensive aces like Billy Richmond around him, I expect John Calipari to run a tenacious effort on that end of the floor to get these guys moving in transition. Beyond those two, this Razorbacks squad is LOADED with talent, including Abdou Toure, Miikka Muurinen, JJ Andrews, Davion Thompson, and Cooper Bowser, to name a few. Virginia will be looking to make a stand off a successful ACC season led by Chance Mallory, Thijs De Ridder, and Johann Grunloh.
Sunday 11/8, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Chicago Bulls: Any time I can watch Caleb Wilson, I will. Seeing him go up against the red-hot Philadelphia 76ers is also a treat, even if that game could end up pretty one-sided if Chicago factors in recent play. Still, Wilson is on pace to challenge for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award, seemingly showing something interesting every night from thunderous dunks to slithery drives and even three-point barrages. VJ Edgecombe is another great sophomore story, as his clutch gene has been ON POINT of late, hitting key shots in Philly’s last few late sequences while continuing to rebound his tail off and make plays on the defensive end.
Sunday 11/8, New Orleans Pelicans vs. LA Clippers: I discussed two key young guards in this matchup above: Keaton Wagler and Jeremiah Fears, and this should be a good test for both to go against each other. Wagler hasn’t been as poor as the percentages against him would indicate on defense, and he plays tough to his competition when matched against a talented counterpart. Let’s see who can come out on top in this matchup of phenom guards.