Cooper Flagg is no longer treated like a rookie by the Dallas Mavericks, even though a few veterans still joke that he should carry a “trainee” name tag. The 2025 No. 1 pick ran the show during the team’s week in China, scoring 33 points with 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks across two preseason games against the Houston Rockets in Macao.
The veterans kept Flagg busy with menial duties, such as carrying bags, during the trip. “I can sometimes sneak by without them remembering that they want me to be a rookie still. But yeah, they definitely try,” Flagg said.
Those jokes aside, Flagg played just 45 minutes across the two games and still looked like a player who has moved past his rookie status. He looked for his own shot, set up his teammates and showed the confidence of a established star. He also talked constantly on the floor, a sign that he has shifted his focus from his own game to the performance of the entire team.
“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.”
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 national attention.
A Week Built Around Flagg
The NBA has plenty of headlines. LeBron James is in Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo is in Miami, and Victor Wembanyama has earned the unofficial title of “future face of the league” while looking for revenge against Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks, who ended their 52-year title drought.
Still, during the NBA’s China Games in Macao, Flagg was the main attraction. His image appeared on the sides of buildings, and he headlined a major shoe event. Inside one of Macao’s high-end 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 focused as much on business and branding as on basketball. NBA commissioner Adam Silver attended meetings with Chinese partners while in town. Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont, who serves as CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., hosted the week. His company operates five resorts in the area with 10,000 combined hotel rooms, along with the Venetian Arena, a lavish venue that feels like a five-star resort with two hoops.
Growing Into a Leader
Flagg is still 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 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.”
On Friday, Flagg made a series of plays in a 30-second stretch. He slipped past the Rockets’ defense with a sideways jump stop and hit a midrange jumper, blocked a shot by Amen Thompson, grabbed the rebound and led a fast break that ended with a lob dunk.
Later, Thompson went under a screen while guarding Flagg, who then 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.”
A Strong Rookie Season
Flagg’s rookie year already stands out in league history. He became:
- The first rookie to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals since Michael Jordan in 1984-85.
- The fourth rookie since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77 to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. The others were Luka Doncic, Larry Bird and Jordan.
- 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.
- Sixth in the league on baskets off drives, and, according to GeniusIQ tracking, fifth-most among all frontcourt players in bringing the ball up.
Essentially, Flagg carried the workload of a mid-career All-Star, even though he played for a team that won just 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 alongside Irving, who returned after missing 19 months with a torn left ACL. Teammates and staff often praise Flagg’s work ethic and competitive drive.
“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.”
Dallas Still Has Work to Do
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 the team is still recovering from the fallout of the Doncic trade and the failed tenure of Anthony Davis. That is why Dallas hired a new coach and built a new front office led by highly regarded president Masai Ujiri.
Ujiri has made clear that the franchise intends to keep Irving alongside Flagg, who is 15 years younger than the veteran point guard. Rival front offices question whether Dallas can follow through on that plan while still filling holes elsewhere on the roster and managing two stars on different career timelines.
That context matters, but Flagg is now the focal point, and he looks ready for the role. 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.”