Cooper Flagg taking NBA by storm. How 'special bond' spurred his ascent

Back to Bangor, Maine. Back to 2019, when Flagg was in the sixth grade.

His parents had been looking for someone to guide Flagg, who was then 12, as a basketball player. Always the standout, he was already drawing interest from national programs, so the objective was simple: to maximize his potential in a state relatively devoid of elite basketball talent.

And so, the Flaggs found this coach named Matt MacKenzie and walked into his gym, though gym, frankly, is doing a lot of work.

Something between a garage and warehouse with tile floors and a hoop, it’s where MacKenzie soon realized he’d have to invent drills – think micro shot clocks and one-on-one games where Flagg was restricted to a single dribble – to match his unicorn intensity.

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Fairly reserved in public, Flagg is notoriously deliberate in trusting people. The family also keeps its inner circle tight. So when they saw the work MacKenzie was putting in, the Flaggs gradually sought his counsel and brought him into their support group for Flagg.

Even now, that hasn’t changed.

In fact, the Mavericks (15-25) have empowered Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick and youngest player in the NBA, to assume total ownership of his rookie season. 

From granting MacKenzie extensive access, to implementing cold tubs and Normatec compression boots that increase blood circulation, to meeting precise dietary and hydration needs, Dallas is allowing Flagg and his inner circle to dictate the terms of his development.

Unique relationship spurs development

The biggest element in that is MacKenzie, who now works for Flagg as a player development coach and advisor. Not only does the arrangement have the team’s full blessing, MacKenzie said he acts as “an extension of the Mavericks coaching staff,” and called the partnership “collaborative.”

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He splits time between Maine and Dallas, flying in for most home games, where he sits a few rows behind the bench.

On any given game night, MacKenzie will show up to the arena before shootaround. 

He’ll observe Flagg’s mechanics and will connect briefly with Mavericks coaches to discuss film they had reviewed with Flagg. Then, MacKenzie may meet with Flagg to discuss any refinements.

On off days, they may spend time in the gym for tune-up work.

“This way, I can be another voice to complement what they’re looking for,” MacKenzie said. “I’m not somebody who’s going to work against them, I’m working with them. 

Just offering him a perspective, being in his ear if he has things he wants to talk about. If he wants somebody to lean on who will tell him the truth, he can come to me.”

On occasion, to help him navigate the nuances of being on the road, MacKenzie may even travel with Flagg, who turned 19 on Dec. 21. MacKenzie, after all, has known Flagg more than a third of his life, so he also acts as a trusted confidant off the court.

“Matt's impact on me has been incredible,” Flagg wrote in a testimonial on MacKenzie’s website. “I wouldn't be the player I am without him.”

This is somewhat atypical in the NBA, even for star players, though not necessarily unheard of. It’s an arrangement that can carry some risk; if any secrecy or communication issues emerge, that can breed resentment or erode trust.