Cooper Flagg produced a standout performance in Macao, scoring 33 points with 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks across two preseason games against the Houston Rockets, even though he played just 45 minutes combined. The Dallas Mavericks’ veterans still treat the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year as a rookie, though. They give him menial duties such as carrying bags during the team’s week in China.
“I can sometimes sneak by without them remembering that they want me to be a rookie still. But yeah, they definitely try,” Flagg said.
That notion is ridiculous on its face. Flagg hunted for his shot and set up his teammates with an assurance that undermines the idea that he is still a newcomer. His voice carried through The Venetian Macao, and he is increasingly involved in the game, shifting his focus from his own play to the performance of everyone around him. He is barrelling down the runway toward superstardom, much like the fully loaded cargo jets taking off from nearby Hong Kong International Airport.
“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 won the NBA’s top rookie honour. His rapid maturity may be underrated at the moment, partly because the Mavericks, stuck in a deep Western Conference, are not commanding attention.
A star in Macao
The NBA has plenty of storylines. LeBron James is in Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo is in Miami, and Victor Wembanyama has claimed the unofficial “future face of the league” title. He is also looking for revenge after Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks, the big-market darlings, ended their 52-year title drought.
For a week in Macao for the NBA’s China Games, however, Flagg was the headliner. His image appeared on the sides of buildings, and he was the focus of a major shoe event. Inside one of Macao’s glittering, marble-lined 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 centred as much on the business of basketball and branding as on the games. NBA commissioner Adam Silver was in town for meetings with Chinese partners. Flagg’s boss, Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont, hosted the week as chief executive of Las Vegas Sands Corp., which operates five resorts in the area with a combined 10,000 hotel rooms, along with the Venetian Arena, an opulent building that feels like a five-star resort with two hoops.
It is easy to lose sight of the basketball, but Flagg’s development is impossible to miss. He is just 19 and will not turn 20 until December 21. His more polished jumper, improved footwork and clear leadership on the court make his age hard to believe.
“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.”
During a 30-second span on Friday, Flagg manoeuvred through the Rockets’ defence with a slick sideways jump stop to drill a midrange jumper. He then blocked Amen Thompson’s shot, gathered the rebound and led a fast break that ended with a lob dunk. A few possessions later, Thompson went under a screen while defending Flagg, who answered with a 3-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.”
Building on a remarkable rookie season
Flagg’s rookie campaign was already historic. He:
- Became the first rookie to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals since Michael Jordan in 1984-85.
- Became the fourth rookie since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77 to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. The others were Luka Dončić, Larry Bird and Jordan.
- Became the first teenager with four 40-point games, the first teenager with consecutive 40-point games, and the first teenager with a 50-point game.
- Ranked sixth in the league on baskets off drives and, according to GeniusIQ tracking, brought the ball up fifth most among all frontcourt players.
Essentially, Flagg carried the load 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.”
Flagg shot 29.5 per cent from three-point range last season, a weakness he is working to address. He spent much of the summer training with Irving, who is returning after missing 19 months with a torn left ACL. Those around the team 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.”
The road ahead for Dallas
Much of Flagg’s development will unfold in the spotlight. The Mavericks have 21 scheduled national television games this season, and not because they are expected to contend. Irving’s return should help, but Dallas is still climbing out of the hole left by the Dončić trade and the failed tenure of Anthony Davis. That is why the team has a new coach and a new front office, led by highly regarded president Masai Ujiri.
Ujiri has made clear that the franchise is committed to keeping Irving alongside Flagg, who is 15 years younger than the star point guard. Rival front offices question whether Dallas can stick to that plan, given the roster holes elsewhere and the two stars being on different career timelines.
That backdrop is real, but Flagg is now centre stage, and he looks ready for it. The rest of the Mavericks feel it as they watch him 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 maximizing his potential.”