Cooper Flagg scored 33 points with 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks in just 45 minutes across two preseason games in Macao, China, against the Houston Rockets, underlining how quickly the Dallas Mavericks’ 2025 No. 1 pick is moving beyond his rookie status. Although some veterans still tease him about being a “trainee” and make him carry bags, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year has already taken on a far bigger role.
“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The on-court evidence makes that joke look increasingly outdated. Flagg hunted his shot and set up his teammates, and his voice carried through The Venetian Macao arena as he directed the game. He is shifting his focus from his own performance to the performance of the whole team, and he is doing so at a pace that belies his age.
“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 claimed the NBA’s top rookie honour. His growing maturity may be underappreciated, partly because the Mavericks, stuck in a deep Western Conference, are not drawing much attention.
A week built around Flagg
The NBA has plenty of headline names. 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 seeking revenge against Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks, who ended their 52-year title drought. In Macao, however, Flagg was the centre of attention.
His image appeared on buildings across the city, 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 was as much about business and branding as basketball. NBA commissioner Adam Silver attended meetings with Chinese partners, while Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont, who is also the chief executive of Las Vegas Sands Corp., hosted the week. The 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 on the court
Even with so much happening off the floor, Flagg’s development was impossible to miss. He turned 19 this year and will not turn 20 until Dec. 21. Yet his polished jumper, improved footwork and clear leadership suggest a player well beyond 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.”
In a 30-second spell on Friday, Flagg showed the full range of his game. He beat the Rockets defence with a slick sideways jump stop to hit a midrange jumper, blocked a shot from Amen Thompson, grabbed the rebound and led a fast break that ended with a lob dunk. A few possessions later, Thompson went under a screen against him, and Flagg responded by hitting a three-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.”
Last season’s benchmarks
Flagg’s rookie season was already remarkable. He became the first rookie to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals since Michael Jordan in 1984-85. He was also 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 records as well, becoming the first teenager with four 40-point games, the first with consecutive 40-point games and the first with a 50-point game. 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.
In essence, Flagg carried the workload 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.”
Working on the weak spots
Flagg shot 29.5% from three-point range last season, a clear weakness that he is working to fix. Much of his summer work was done alongside Irving, who is returning after missing 19 months because of a torn left ACL. Team insiders often 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 long road back for Dallas
Much of Flagg’s development will unfold in front of a national audience. The Mavericks have 21 scheduled national television games this season, not because they are expected to contend, but because of the interest surrounding their young star. Irving’s return should help, but Dallas is still recovering from the fallout of the Doncic trade and the failed tenure of Anthony Davis. That is why the franchise has a new coach and a new front office, led by highly regarded president Masai Ujiri.
Ujiri has made it clear that the franchise intends to keep Irving alongside Flagg, who is 15 years younger than the veteran point guard. Rival front offices, however, question whether Dallas can stick to that plan while holes remain elsewhere on the roster and the two stars are on different career timelines.
Those questions form the backdrop, but Flagg is now centre stage, and he appears ready for the spotlight. 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 maximising his potential.”