The Cooper Flagg Era Has Unofficially Begun

Some Dallas Mavericks fans are still not over Nico Harrison and the Luka Doncic trade. However, the Cooper Flagg era has unofficially begun. Flagg, 18, started his professional basketball career on Thursday, whether Mavericks fans believe in the hype surrounding the former Duke star or not. Read on for further details.

The Cooper Flagg Era Has Unofficially Begun

Cooper Flagg has been the talk of the town and rightfully so. Flagg stormed through high school and college as a high-profile forward to look out for. Flagg was so good at basketball that he skipped a grade in high school and played just one season in college before declaring for the NBA Draft.

The Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 87-85 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday. Flagg made his NBA Summer League debut as a rookie and showcased his skills against the Lakers. Fans got a glimpse of what Flagg would look like in a point guard role.

Flagg won’t turn 19 years old until December 21, but the Mavericks made the right choice in selecting the Duke Blue Devils alum. Flagg’s potential, including his moments of brilliance, has hyped him up. Perhaps Flagg is the most hyped NBA rookie since LeBron James in 2003. We’ll see.

The Cooper Flagg Era Will Officially Begin

Cooper Flagg may or may not play as a point guard when the 2025-26 NBA season gets underway, but Flagg has shown so far that he can initiate an offense, shield himself from defenders, and make smart passes, especially in transition. Flagg had zero turnovers in Thursday’s game, an achievement as he often had the ball in his hands.

Final Thoughts

Cooper Flagg reportedly wasn’t impressed with his performance, but at least the Dallas Mavericks are getting things rolling for what could be a new era in Dallas. Flagg might’ve just been hard on himself, dealing with low self-esteem, or a combination of both. Flagg might also struggle to adapt from college to the NBA, but he could get used to the increased pace and physicality of the pros in time.

Flagg and the Mavericks will face the San Antonio Spurs at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Pacific. Aside from Flagg, keep an eye on Ryan Nembhard and Miles Kelly, as both two-way guards contributed to the Mavericks’ scoring on Thursday.