Cooper Flagg is already playing like a veteran, and in two preseason games in Macao, China, the Dallas Mavericks’ 2025 No. 1 pick posted 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks in just 45 minutes against the Houston Rockets. Even so, some Mavericks veterans have kept up the joke that Flagg is still a “trainee” who handles menial duties like carrying bags, and he remains a rookie until he plays the first game of his second season.
“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 his teammates with the kind of confidence that undercuts the idea that he is a newcomer. His impact goes beyond the box score. His voice carried through The Venetian Macao, and he is vocally involved in the game, moving quickly from focusing on his own play to directing 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 Rising Star on the Road
Flagg has been on the basketball world’s radar since he was 16, starred at Duke and then won the NBA’s top rookie honor. His growing maturity may be underrated right now, partly because the Mavericks, stuck in a deep Western Conference, are not drawing much attention. Still, Flagg’s development feels inevitable.
The league has plenty of other storylines. LeBron James is in Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo is in Miami, and Victor Wembanyama has claimed the unofficial “future face of the league” label while looking for revenge after Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks ended their 52-year title drought. During the NBA’s China Games, however, Flagg was the headliner. His image covered buildings in Macao, and he was the focus of a major shoe event. Inside one of the city’s high-end, marble-wrapped 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 was as much about business and branding as basketball. NBA commissioner Adam Silver was in town for meetings with Chinese partners. Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont, who is also the CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., hosted the week. The company operates five resorts in the area with 10,000 combined hotel rooms, plus the Venetian Arena, a lavish building that feels like a five-star resort with two hoops.
Amid all that, Flagg’s development stood out. He is just 19 and will not turn 20 until Dec. 21. Given his polished jumper, improved footwork and clear leadership on the court, that age is hard 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.”
Highlights Against Houston
During a 30-second stretch on Friday, Flagg slipped past the Rockets defense with a sideways jump stop to drill a midrange jumper, blocked a shot by Amen Thompson, grabbed the rebound and led a fast break that ended with a lob dunk. A few possessions later, Thompson went under a screen while defending 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.”
Building on a Strong Rookie Season
Flagg’s rookie year set a high bar. He became the first rookie to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals since Michael Jordan in 1984-85. He also became the fourth rookie since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77 to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists, joining 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, according to GeniusIQ tracking, brought the ball up fifth most among all frontcourt players.
Essentially, Flagg carried the load of a mid-career All-Star on a team that won 26 games.
“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.”
Flagg shot 29.5% from 3-point range last season, a weakness he is working to fix. He spent much of his summer training with Irving, who is returning after missing 19 months with a torn left ACL. Teammates and coaches often point to 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.”
Pressure and Expectations in Dallas
Much of Flagg’s development will happen under a national spotlight. 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 Doncic trade and the failed tenure of Anthony Davis. The franchise now has a new coach and a new front office, led by highly regarded president Masai Ujiri.
Ujiri has made clear that the franchise is committed to keeping Irving and Flagg together, even though Flagg is 15 years younger than the star point guard. Rival front offices question whether Dallas can stick to that plan while it has holes elsewhere on the roster and two stars on different career timelines.
Those are real concerns, but Flagg is now on stage, and he looks ready. The rest of the Mavericks feel it as they watch him 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.”