The Dallas Mavericks’ prized rookie arrived at his first NBA practice with expectations already sky-high, and by all accounts, he delivered. Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in June’s draft, impressed both coaches and veterans with his poise, energy, and willingness to learn.

Klay Thompson, a four-time champion entering his second season with Dallas, said what struck him most was Flagg’s approach to the game.

“I think Cooper can be as good as he wants to be,” Thompson said. “He’s got all the tools to be great as far as his height, his athleticism, but what I love most about Coop is he’s perceptive to information, and he wants to work. And when you’ve got those two ingredients, he can be as good as he wants to be.”

Head coach Jason Kidd praised Flagg’s ability to adapt quickly, noting that his competitiveness stood out from the start.

“He’s a competitor,” Kidd said. “He made a lot of the right plays. Handling the ball, playing without the ball. He understands how to play the game at a very, very high level, and I thought his energy was great.”

For Flagg, the practice intensity matched what he anticipated, and he said he was pleased with the way the group came together.

“I was just really happy with the way we all came out and were competing, working hard, and just trying to get better,” Flagg said. “I thought the intensity was great.”

The 18-year-old forward acknowledged that his biggest adjustment so far has been the shift in terminology between college and the pros.

“Sometimes I mess up and say old terminology I used at Duke, but at the end of the day, if you say something, it’s better than saying nothing,” he said. “Just let your teammates know where you are.”

Still, Flagg said his focus is on blending in with his teammates and contributing in whatever ways are needed.

“The expectations lie within myself,” he said. “I think it’s just about being myself, really, and just going through it and not changing for anybody. Obviously, impacting the game in a lot of different ways and doing everything I can to impact winning at a high level.”

Individual honors are on his radar, but he emphasized that team goals come first.

“Obviously, I’d like to be Rookie of the Year,” Flagg said. “As a team, I just want a lot of success, a lot of wins. We obviously want to win a championship, so that’s a big thing.”

The Mavericks, who had just a 1.8% chance of winning the draft lottery before landing the top pick, see Flagg as a franchise-altering addition. For him, the first day of training camp was just the beginning of proving that belief right.

“I’m just looking forward to the journey and just starting it off,” Flagg said. “We have an incredible group of guys on this team. Everybody has been great so far, so I’m just excited to really start the journey and start getting back to competing and trying to win.”