Cooper Flagg produced 33 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks in just 45 minutes across two preseason games in Macao, China, against the Houston Rockets. The Dallas Mavericks rookie, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year and the 2025 No. 1 pick, is ready for a bigger role, even though some of his veteran teammates still treat him like a newcomer.
Several Mavericks veterans have kept up the joke that Flagg still wears a “trainee” name tag and remains a rookie until he plays the first game of his second season. During the team’s week in China, that meant 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 stat line makes the joke look ridiculous. Flagg hunted his shot, set up his teammates and played with a composure that belies his age. His voice carried through The Venetian Macao, and he was constantly involved in the game, a sign that he has moved beyond focusing only on his own play and now takes in the whole floor.
A rapid rise
“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. He starred at Duke and then won the NBA’s top rookie award. His growing maturity may be underrated, partly because the Mavericks, stuck in a deep Western Conference, are not drawing much attention. Even so, Flagg’s progress feels almost inevitable.
The wider NBA has plenty of other storylines. LeBron James is in Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo is in Miami, and Victor Wembanyama has claimed the unofficial title of “future face of the league.” The New York Knicks, the big-market darlings, have grabbed attention after Jalen Brunson led them to an end to their 52-year title drought.
For one week in Macao, though, Flagg was the headliner. His image appeared on buildings around the city, and he was the focus of 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.
Business and basketball
The trip was as much about business and branding as basketball. NBA commissioner Adam Silver attended meetings with Chinese partners while in town. Flagg’s boss, Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont, hosted the week in his role as chief executive of Las Vegas Sands Corp. The company operates five resorts in the area with 10,000 combined hotel rooms, along with the Venetian Arena, which feels like a five-star resort with two hoops.
It is easy to lose sight of the games, but Flagg’s development is impossible to miss. He is just 19 and will not turn 20 until Dec. 21. His more polished jumper, improved footwork and clear leadership on court suggest a player far older than his years.
“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 defence with a slick sideways jump stop to drill a midrange jumper. He then blocked Amen Thompson’s shot, 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 with ease.
“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.”
Last season’s numbers
Flagg’s rookie season was already remarkable. He became the first rookie since Michael Jordan in 1984-85 to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals. 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 set several teenage milestones as well, with four 40-point games, consecutive 40-point games and a 50-point game, each a first for a teenager. 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, not that of 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.”
Flagg shot just 29.5% from three-point range last season, a weakness he is working to fix. He spent much of his summer working with Irving, who is returning after missing 19 months with a torn left ACL. People around the team 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.”
A team in transition
Much of Flagg’s development will happen in front of large audiences. The Mavericks have 21 scheduled national television games this season, not because they are expected to contend. Irving’s return should help, but the team is still climbing out of the hole left by the Doncic trade and the struggles of Anthony Davis’ tenure. A new coach and a new front office, led by highly regarded president Masai Ujiri, are now in place.
Ujiri has made it clear that the franchise is committed to keeping Irving alongside Flagg, who is 15 years younger than the star point guard. Rival front offices question whether Dallas can stick to that plan, given roster holes elsewhere and the two stars being on different career timelines.
That backdrop is real. But Flagg is now centre stage, and he looks ready for it. As his teammates watch him work every day, they can feel it too.
“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.”