Cooper Flagg will be taking his game from the basketball court to the tennis court next week in support of a good cause.
And he’ll be supporting a new mentor in the process.
The 18-year-old Dallas Mavericks rookie is already starting to form a relationship with Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki, who led the Dallas franchise to its only NBA championship in 2011. As part of that new connection, Flagg will be joining the annual charity tennis tournament hosted by Nowitzki’s foundation on Sept. 13 in the city.
One of Flagg’s longtime mentors, trainer Matt MacKenzie of Eastern Maine Sports Academy and Results Basketball in Veazie, said the Mavericks legend Nowitzki has already been a resource for Flagg heading into his rookie season.
“Dirk had reached out to him and asked if he’d be interested in helping out at the event, and Dirk has been a nice early mentor for Cooper since he’s been drafted,” MacKenzie told the Bangor Daily News.
“I don’t know if he’s ever really played much tennis, to be honest with you,” MacKenzie said when asked about Flagg’s tennis game.
But MacKenzie knows well that Flagg is able to learn new skills quickly.
“Just being the natural athlete that he is, I’m sure he’ll be able to hold his own in an event like that, and he’ll be able to pick it up pretty quickly. But I’ve never known Cooper to spend a lot of time on his tennis game,” MacKenzie said. “However, I have seen him play ping-pong, and he’s very good at that.”
The charity tennis event will benefit the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation, which works to support childhood health, well-being and education.
As Flagg looks to help support Nowitzki in that mission, Nowitzki is also supporting Flagg in his transition to the NBA. The retired champion told the Dallas Morning News this week that, while the two haven’t met in person, they have traded texts.
“We were texting a bit after he was drafted. I wanted to welcome him to the city and let him know if there’s anything he ever needs that I’m here for him and happy to help,” Nowitzki said.
MacKenzie is heading down to Dallas soon from Maine and said there are plans for that in-person meeting between Flagg and Nowitzki.
“Dirk plans to get on the basketball court with Cooper and I when I’m out there training and to kind of give some different tips and advice on just his process,” MacKenzie said. “And I think that as they build a relationship, they’ll have that type of back and forth where they’re willing to help each other out in those different areas — whether it’s Cooper being involved with his charity event, or Dirk jumping on the practice court to give Cooper some advice on his patented turnaround fade or whatever it might be down the road.”
Nowitzki said in the Dallas Morning News interview this week that he will encourage Flagg to listen to the veteran players around him.
“I think that’ll be my advice. Learn as much as you can. Soak it all up and eventually use it and find your own routine,” Nowitzki said. “Find your own way of leading. I don’t think there’s just one way to do it.”
