Mavericks Notes: Cooper Flagg, Klay Thompson, Jason Kidd

The Mavericks officially opened training camp Tuesday in Vancouver, and all eyes were on No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, who got his first taste of NBA practice intensity.

Flagg told reporters that his debut was a valuable measuring stick as he adjusts to the pace and demands of the league.

“It was good,” Flagg said, via Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal. “We’ve done a good job ramping up and being in the gym, so it’s good to get out here. A lot longer of a day, but it’s fun bumping and getting in with the guys.”

The 18-year-old rookie admitted he’s trying to balance excitement with patience.

“I’m ready. I’m excited. I’m just trying to take it one step at a time, enjoy every process, every step of the way,” Flagg said. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I’m really excited.”

Kidd: Habits Start Now

Head coach Jason Kidd that Day 1 “set the right tone,” via Afseth.

“Day one, yeah. I thought it was great,” Kidd said. “The energy was high, the talk was high. It was a positive day. For the length of time that we were out there, there were a lot of positive things.”

Kidd emphasized that early camp is about more than just reps. It’s about building championship habits and strong player-to-player communication.

“We’ve talked about having fun. We talked about championship habits,” Kidd said. “And I think just the relationship building, being able to talk, having player-to-player conversations. When players are talking to each other, they’re figuring it out. I thought it was a lot of that today.”

Klay Brings Juice

Klay Thompson again brought some veteran energy to the first day of camp, saying he felt “refreshed and motivated” after a long offseason, via Afseth.

“I had a long, refreshing offseason, so I channeled that energy into the first practice,” Thompson said. “It felt great to see our team nearly complete and competing. It was so much fun.”

Thompson said his early message to the team is about setting a relentless tone.

“Learn about the team. Get a feel, compete, and set the foundation for what’s to come,” he said. “We’re trying to set a standard for the culture here—that we’re going to push through adversity, play when we’re tired, and be relentless in chasing our goals.”

And yes, one of the players to catch Thompson’s eye was Flagg.

“Cooper did great,” Thompson said. “I’m most impressed he didn’t sit out one drill. I don’t care how many shots he misses or mistakes he makes. The fact that he’s in there and competing every single drill, that’s what impresses me.”

Big Names, Big Setting

Flagg called it “surreal” to practice on a team with Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Thompson on the roster, as all were guys he grew up watching.

“I was a big fan watching Klay when he was on the Warriors’ big run,” Flagg said. “So it’s cool to be on the same team as them.”

The Mavs will continue its camp in Vancouver through the week before heading back to Dallas for preseason. Flagg said the Canadian setting has made the experience even more memorable.

“I’ve never been to Canada at all,” he said. “It’s really beautiful. Cool to be up here and in a new place.”

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