The Dallas Mavericks and No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg visit the Boston Celtics at TD Garden for the first time this season.
No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg grew up in Newport, Maine and when he had the chance, he'd watch his childhood favorite team, the Boston Celtics, play at the TD Garden.
Now, he's the best player on the Dallas Mavericks, the same team those Celtics defeated to win their league-leading 18th NBA Championship not even two years ago.
The two teams that've defined the teenage phenom's life and professional career face one another in Boston Friday night, a part of ESPN's primetime double-header broadcast. It's an event we imagine the Mavs rookie has been itching to be a part of, even as he's dealt with a midfoot sprain over the last few weeks.
Flagg made his return to the Mavericks lineup on Thursday after missing a long stretch near the All-Star break. Dallas fell in a close battle with the Orlando Magic.
He scored 18 points on a sluggish 7-for-22 shooting while on a minutes restriction. In his 26 minutes of action, however, he also added five rebounds and six assists. Flagg's first field goal gave him over 1,000 points in his young NBA career.
With a marquee game circled on the calendar for this week's back-to-back, Flagg shared what his emotions are like going into his first game at the Garden.
"I’m excited," he said. "I know there’s going to be a lot of people showing up from Maine and showing support. I’m really excited just to be up there for the first time & play in that arena. It’s the only arena I went to as a little kid. I’m really excited to get an opportunity and I’m just blessed."
This will be the second of two "homecoming" games of sorts for Flagg. He attended Monteverde Academy in central Florida for his final two years of high school. The prep school's campus is a half-hour drive away from the Magic's Kia Center.
In this one, another headliner player making a return is Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who after tearing his Achilles late last season, has made an impressive comeback to return to the floor in time for another playoff push.
Tatum, like Flagg, also attended Duke for his one-and-done college season. The Blue Devils' renowned men's basketball program prides itself on the "brotherhood" culture that is evident even when superstar alums transition into the NBA.
Last month, Flagg explained that Tatum has reached out and offered encouragement as he's gotten his rookie season going.
This first matchup with Tatum and the Celtics has been on Flagg's mind since before he stepped onto an NBA floor.
Moments after getting drafted by the Mavericks this past summer, Flagg appeared on SportsCenter to share who he's most excited to face.
The rook will finally have that opportunity Friday night at 6 p.m. inside TD Garden.