Cooper Flagg Expresses Appreciation For Ex-Celtics Guard Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving is often described as a villain by Boston Celtics fans, but Irving is beloved by his teammates on the Dallas Mavericks, not least of all rookie phenom Cooper Flagg.

Flagg recently praised Kyrie’s character during an interview. “Kai is an incredible human being,” Flagg said. “He’s looked out for us this whole year & for me, ever since I got here. He’s just been a really good vet for me. He’s just a kind-hearted person.”

Rumor has it that the Mavericks’ leadership has recently placed Anthony Davis on the trade block. Dallas is reportedly looking to build around Flagg, with Kyrie sticking around as the veteran leader in the locker room.

The Mavs reportedly like Kyrie’s chemistry with Flagg on the court and from a personality standpoint. Both players attended Duke University for one season before getting drafted No. 1 overall.

Kyrie is still just 33 years old (most people assume he is older than that). It’ll be interesting to see what the Mavs look like when Kyrie returns from his ACL rehab later this season, as is expected (though no timeline has been established).

Over two seasons as a Celtic, Irving averaged 24.1 points and 6.1 assists per game, earning All-Star nods both years. However, injuries and off-court tensions strained his time there, leading to his departure in 2019. In a recent reflection shared with Jaylen Brown, Irving expressed fond memories of his Celtics days, noting the team’s eventual 2024 title success after his exit (which came by defeating Kyrie’s Mavs squad with Luka Dončić).

Post-Boston, Irving joined the Brooklyn Nets before landing with the Mavs in 2023. He signed a contract extension with Dallas in June 2025.