Cooper Flagg ’s much-anticipated first outing in a Dallas Mavericks jersey finally arrived on Monday night and the 18-year-old didn’t disappoint. In just 14 minutes, the No. 1 overall pick displayed flashes of the all-around brilliance that made him one of the most hyped prospects in years. His balanced stat line helped the Mavericks secure a 106-89 preseason win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Cooper Flagg shines in limited minutes during Mavericks’ preseason win
The game began slowly for Cooper Flagg, who missed a few early looks before settling in and finding his rhythm. His first basket came midway through the second quarter — an acrobatic layup through contact that drew cheers from the home crowd. Moments later, he followed it up with a smooth pull-up three-pointer, giving fans a glimpse of the offensive versatility that defined his lone season at Duke.
By halftime, Flagg had 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a block while shooting 3-of-6 from the floor. He also showed poise as a secondary ball handler, setting up Dwight Powell for an easy dunk off a sharp drive-and-dish play. Though he didn’t play in the second half, his first showing was enough to spark optimism across Mavericks Nation.
Flagg called the experience “an incredible one,” telling Mavs TV after the game, “The game just slowed down. I was trusting the offense and trusting my shots.”
Expectations soar for Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg
Flagg’s preseason debut comes at a crucial juncture for Dallas. The franchise is looking to reset after a turbulent year marked by injuries and the departure of Luka Doncic. With Kyrie Irving recovering from an ACL tear and expected back midseason, Flagg’s early contributions could shape the Mavericks’ direction in the opening stretch of the campaign.
The Maine native entered the league after dominating college basketball at Duke, where he averaged 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game en route to National Player of the Year honors. His arrival in Dallas was improbable — the Mavericks had only a 1.8% chance to win the draft lottery.
Veteran forward Anthony Davis praised the rookie’s transition, saying, “For him, he’s coming to a team that’s established. He doesn’t have to do as much as a normal No. 1 pick has to do. We are still going to ask him to be Cooper Flagg for sure.”
Three preseason games remain before the Oct. 22 regular-season opener against the San Antonio Spurs. Flagg’s performance has already fueled excitement among Mavericks fans with his highly anticipated NBA regular-season debut .
Also Read: Kevin Love drops iconic Michael Jordan clip as LeBron James sparks speculation with his latest post
Cooper Flagg shines in limited minutes during Mavericks’ preseason win
The game began slowly for Cooper Flagg, who missed a few early looks before settling in and finding his rhythm. His first basket came midway through the second quarter — an acrobatic layup through contact that drew cheers from the home crowd. Moments later, he followed it up with a smooth pull-up three-pointer, giving fans a glimpse of the offensive versatility that defined his lone season at Duke.
Cooper Flagg has arrived 🍿
— NBA (@NBA) October 7, 2025
Back-to-back buckets for the No. 1 pick's first career preseason points! pic.twitter.com/BLGGUttqX7
By halftime, Flagg had 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and a block while shooting 3-of-6 from the floor. He also showed poise as a secondary ball handler, setting up Dwight Powell for an easy dunk off a sharp drive-and-dish play. Though he didn’t play in the second half, his first showing was enough to spark optimism across Mavericks Nation.
Cooper Flagg in his 1st half of preseason action:
— NBA (@NBA) October 7, 2025
10 PTS
6 REB
3 AST
1 BLK
Flagg & the Mavs lead the Thunder at the break! pic.twitter.com/0PtuVEDyh0
Flagg called the experience “an incredible one,” telling Mavs TV after the game, “The game just slowed down. I was trusting the offense and trusting my shots.”
Expectations soar for Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg
Flagg’s preseason debut comes at a crucial juncture for Dallas. The franchise is looking to reset after a turbulent year marked by injuries and the departure of Luka Doncic. With Kyrie Irving recovering from an ACL tear and expected back midseason, Flagg’s early contributions could shape the Mavericks’ direction in the opening stretch of the campaign.
The Maine native entered the league after dominating college basketball at Duke, where he averaged 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game en route to National Player of the Year honors. His arrival in Dallas was improbable — the Mavericks had only a 1.8% chance to win the draft lottery.
Veteran forward Anthony Davis praised the rookie’s transition, saying, “For him, he’s coming to a team that’s established. He doesn’t have to do as much as a normal No. 1 pick has to do. We are still going to ask him to be Cooper Flagg for sure.”
Three preseason games remain before the Oct. 22 regular-season opener against the San Antonio Spurs. Flagg’s performance has already fueled excitement among Mavericks fans with his highly anticipated NBA regular-season debut .
Also Read: Kevin Love drops iconic Michael Jordan clip as LeBron James sparks speculation with his latest post
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