Before even stepping onto the court for his first official NBA game, Cooper Flagg has already become one of basketball’s most exciting young stories.
The Dallas Mavericks rookie, selected with the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, enters the league with a résumé most veterans would envy.
In his lone college season at Duke, Flagg captured both the Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year awards, confirming his place as the best player in the country and solidifying his status as a generational prospect.
At Duke, the versatile forward averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while demonstrating an uncommon fearlessness that quickly turned him into a leader.
That same intensity carried over to Team USA training camp ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where veterans reportedly admired how easily the teenager adapted to competing against some of the best players in the world. His approach, equal parts poise and aggression, now has him drawing attention before his first NBA season even begins.
Flagg‘s latest headline moment arrived during a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Early in the first quarter, a defensive lapse left him completely open on the baseline. With nothing but air between him and the rim, the 6-foot-9 rookie exploded upward for a soaring dunk that brought fans to their feet.
Moments later, the NBA’s official social media account gave him a nickname that spread instantly across the internet. “Flight Flagg is cleared for TAKEOFF,” the post read, pairing the clip of his dunk with a moniker that already feels destined to stick.
Jason Kidd puts the rookie in control of a bold new lineup
The highlight was only part of a larger experiment by head coach Jason Kidd, who has been testing Flagg’s comfort level as a primary ball handler.
Kidd has built a preseason starting group loaded with size-featuring Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II, all sharing the floor with Flagg as the lead guard. The goal, according to Kidd, is to see how the teenager handles pressure and responsibility before the real season begins.
“I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts being able to run the show,” Kidd said in June. “We want to push, and I think he’s going to respond in a positive way.”
Flagg did just that in the 121-94 victory over the Lakers, finishing with 13 points, two rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes while maintaining control of the offense.
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