Kyrie Irving's Offseason Mentorship of Cooper Flagg Could Fuel a Fantasy Leap
Flagg averaged 39.8 fantasy points per game as a rookie. Now he's spent the summer running pickup with Irving — and that chemistry could push his 2026-27 ceiling.
Rookie #34 with Kyrie chemistry and a rising role — his ceiling isn't priced in.
- Flagg: 21.0 pts, 6.7 reb, 4.5 ast in 70 games (2025-26)
- Flagg averaged 39.8 fantasy pts/game as a rookie
- Last 5 games: +3.8 fantasy pts vs his season average
- Irving posted 40.6 fantasy pts/game in 2024-25 (50 games)
- Our ranks: Flagg #34, Irving #29 entering 2026-27
Cooper Flagg didn't just win Rookie of the Year in Dallas — he did it while quietly logging the kind of numbers that keep fantasy managers up at night. In 70 games last season (2025-26), Flagg put up 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists, good for 39.8 fantasy points per game and a #34 overall spot in our current rankings. And that was with Kyrie Irving watching from the bench, not the backcourt.
That's the wrinkle worth your attention. According to Flagg's longtime trainer Matt MacKenzie, the two spent the offseason running pickup and working out together, building on-court chemistry that never got a chance to breathe last year. MacKenzie said both players expect that joy to show up on the floor come October and November — and for a second-year forward, having a two-way maestro like Irving as a live-action tutor is a real developmental edge.
Why the Fit Matters
MacKenzie framed it as two high-IQ players who complement each other, and the stylistic overlap is easy to see. Both are creative problem-solvers, both are functionally ambidextrous, and both thrive in the reads-and-decisions game the modern NBA rewards. Irving, per MacKenzie, has serious respect for Flagg's game and wants to help him take the next step — the same way Irving once sought out veteran mentors of his own.
It's not a one-off relationship, either. MacKenzie said Flagg spent significant time with Irving last season while Kyrie was sidelined, then kept in contact through the summer, finding pockets of time to connect. New head coach Dusty May has leaned into that culture theme too, noting his roster is stacked with players who already understand what winning takes.
The Fantasy Fallout
Here's the projection risk worth flagging: a healthy Irving eats usage. In his last full run (40.6 fantasy points per game across 50 games in 2024-25), he was a clear focal point, which could cap some of Flagg's counting stats. But the trade-off is a cleaner offense, better looks, and a rookie whose feel for the game accelerates faster with a mentor running next to him. Flagg's last-five-games trend at +3.8 fantasy points over his season average suggests the arrow was already pointing up.
Buy low on Flagg where you can. His #34 rank is built on a rookie season with Irving mostly absent — the developmental leap and improved shot quality aren't fully baked into that number yet. If a leaguemate still sees him as a raw sophomore, that's your window. Hold Irving as a mid-round guard (#29) with the usual injury asterisk, and monitor how the touches split once these two actually share the floor in the regular season.
