Cooper Flagg is acting like a star, and the Dallas Mavericks are treating him like one. The 2025 No. 1 pick, who is technically still a rookie until he plays his first game of a second season, put up 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks in two preseason games in Macao against the Houston Rockets, playing just 45 minutes combined.
Some veterans have kept up the joke that Flagg still wears a “trainee” name tag. During the team’s week in China, he handled menial duties such as carrying bags. “I can sometimes sneak by without them remembering that they want me to be a rookie still. But yeah, they definitely try,” Flagg said.
The teasing is hard to take seriously. Flagg hunted his shot and set up teammates with a confidence that cuts against the idea that he is still new to the league. His voice carried through The Venetian Macao, and he directed the game from the floor, moving from concern for his own game toward involvement in everyone else’s.
“I’m just finding my voice,” Flagg said. “Being so young and a little bit inexperienced is tough sometimes, but I think up to this point, I’ve earned the respect of my teammates, and I’ve gotten that sense that they really respect me and my opinion.”
A Maturation That Is Easy to Overlook
Flagg has been on the basketball world’s radar since he was 16. He starred at Duke and then won the NBA’s top rookie honor. Even so, his growing maturity may be underappreciated right now. Dallas sits in a deep Western Conference and is not demanding much attention, which makes it easier for his progress to slip under the radar.
The rest of the league has plenty of storylines. LeBron James is in Philadelphia. Giannis Antetokounmpo is in Miami. Victor Wembanyama has taken on the unofficial “future face of the league” label and wants revenge after Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks ended their 52-year title drought.
In Macao, though, Flagg was the headliner. His image covered the sides of buildings, and he was the centerpiece of a major shoe event. Inside one of the city’s high-end, marble-lined malls, he unveiled his personal New Balance logo, which combines his initials with the silhouette of a pine tree, a nod to his home state of Maine.
The trip also served the business side of the sport. NBA commissioner Adam Silver attended meetings with Chinese partners. Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont hosted the week as CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., which operates five resorts in the area with 10,000 combined hotel rooms, along with the Venetian Arena.
Flashes of Star Play
Flagg is only 19 and will not turn 20 until Dec. 21. His polished jumper, improved footwork and clear on-court leadership make that age difficult to believe.
“He’s going to lead this franchise into the future. You can definitely bank on that,” teammate Kyrie Irving said. “He deserves a lot of the praise he’s gotten because he’s carried a lot. … He’s wise beyond his years.”
During a 30-second stretch on Friday, Flagg beat the Rockets defense with a slick sideways jump stop and drilled a midrange jumper. He then blocked a shot by Amen Thompson, gathered the rebound and led a fast break that ended with a lob dunk. A few possessions later, Thompson went under a screen while guarding Flagg, and Flagg buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
“He’s such a versatile player, someone that literally can score three levels,” Mavericks first-year coach Dusty May said. “He can make defensive plays on and off the ball.”
What He Accomplished Last Season
Flagg’s rookie year set a high bar. Here is what he did:
- He became the first rookie to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals since Michael Jordan in 1984-85.
- He became the fourth rookie since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77 to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. The others: Luka Doncic, Larry Bird and Jordan.
- He became the first teenager with four 40-point games, the first teenager with consecutive 40-point games and the first teenager with a 50-point game.
- He ranked sixth in the league on baskets off drives and, per GeniusIQ tracking, brought the ball up fifth most among all frontcourt players.
Essentially, Flagg carried the workload of a mid-career All-Star, not a rookie on a 26-win team.
“I felt at points last year I was going in blind a little bit,” Flagg said. “Obviously, I hadn’t been through a lot of those experiences before. So, I think just having that this year is a big help. Just feeling prepared, feeling ready. There’s a lot less to worry about.”
Work Ethic and a Long Road Ahead
Flagg shot 29.5% from 3-point range last season, and he is working to fix that weakness. He spent much of his summer training alongside Irving, who is returning after missing 19 months with a torn left ACL. Teammates and people around the organization praise Flagg’s work ethic and competitive nature.
“Your talent only gets you so far; being remembered for your work ethic and how you treated people and also that championship mindset you came in with every day, that’s what people hold on to,” Irving said.
“For me as a peer, but also as a brother, I look at him as someone that has a world of potential, but also still needs a lot of guidance just like we all do in basketball, a lot of teaching, a lot of knowledge being passed.”
Much of his development will happen in front of large audiences. The Mavericks have 21 scheduled national television games this season, even though they are not expected to contend. Irving’s return should help, but Dallas is still climbing out of a hole created by the Luka Doncic trade and the struggles of Anthony Davis’ tenure. The franchise has a new coach and a new front office, led by highly regarded president Masai Ujiri.
Ujiri has made clear that the Mavericks are committed to keeping Irving alongside Flagg, who is 15 years younger than the veteran point guard. Rival front offices question whether Dallas can stick with that plan, given roster holes elsewhere and the two stars being on different career timelines.
Those questions remain, but Flagg is now on center stage, and he looks ready for the moment. His teammates see it every day.
“This is a big responsibility to help him in his evolution to being one of the best,” May said. “A great player’s success is determined by everyone around them. So all of us [being] better teammates, better players, better coaches will contribute to him maximizing his potential.”