Cooper Flagg finally made his awaited debut in the NBA for the Dallas Mavericks last night when they faced the San Antonio Spurs at the American Airlines Center in the first game of the 2025/2026 season. Even though the Mavs lost the game 95-125, the young player gave glimpses of his talent and poise on the court. The draft’s number No. 1 pick finished his first game on the big leagues with a double-double: 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Flagg, a mere 18-year-old, entered the game as the youngest member of this year’s NBA roster. He displayed flashes of his high potential, such as a fluid rebound sprint and tip-in progression in the early going, but also faced the rough edges of a rookie trying to adjust to the pace and contact of the professional game.
A historic but rough start
He did not score any points during the first half and finished the game shooting 4-of-13 from the floor, with three turnovers and 32 minutes of playing time. Even with that not-so-good performance, his double-double places him in elite company: Flagg joined an exclusive group of players in Mavericks history to accomplish that feat in their first game.
His coach, Jason Kidd, offered a measured description, saying:
As a rookie, he did fine … no one in this room is sitting in his shoes. We’ll learn and we’ll be better next time
Flagg himself admitted:
Not great … obviously didn’t play incredibly well, but we’ve got to move past it … turn the page
Just give him time
Cooper Flagg’s NBA debut came with an unfortunate loss where the team showed struggles in the offense and defense. Even though the result is not what he initially wanted, the Mavericks’ young player’s debut is definitely reassuring. His rebound stats tell the story of early hustle and good positioning, skills already seen on his college experience as well as his scoring struggles showcase his inexperienced career in the elite.
For Flagg, the message is simple: the spotlight is bright and suculent, the hype is tremendous, but the ride just started. His debut was as optimal as character development, as tough as it was promising.
We can be sure that this is just the start of a great NBA career.
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