Cooper Flagg made a strong first impression in his NBA preseason debut, demonstrating the kind of versatility that made him the No. 1 overall draft pick. The 18-year-old rookie did a bit of everything in just 14 minutes of action during the Dallas Mavericks’ 106-89 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night at Dickies Arena.
Flagg posted a well-rounded stat line in his limited time on the court, finishing with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a blocked shot — all without committing a turnover. He even took on some point guard duties, showing poise and maturity well beyond his years.
“Just taking whatever the defense gives me,” Flagg said after the game. “Keeping it simple — whether it’s a pass or a shot — just making the right play.”
All of Flagg’s scoring came during a two-minute burst in the second quarter that electrified the crowd. He started the run by grabbing a defensive board and going coast-to-coast for a tough, contested layup — his first NBA points. On the very next possession, he drilled a three-pointer as the ball handler in a pick-and-roll. Moments later, he sank two free throws after getting fouled on a strong spin move in the paint, then capped off the scoring spree with another pull-up three from beyond the arc.
Flagg finished the game shooting 3-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from deep — a clean, efficient performance that highlighted his offensive potential.
“It’s a fun style of basketball when the ball’s moving like that,” Flagg said. “It was fun.”
But it wasn’t just offense — Flagg made his presence known early on defense. Less than two minutes into the game, he soared in from the weak side to block a layup attempt by Isaiah Joe, sparking a fast break that ended with an emphatic dunk by Anthony Davis.
“You saw it all — defense, playmaking, scoring,” said Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd. “He was really, really good.”
It’s worth noting that the Thunder, fresh off a win against the Hornets in Charleston the night before, rested all of their regular starters. Still, Flagg’s performance provided a clear glimpse into why he’s considered one of the most exciting young talents in the league.
