Rookie Cooper Flagg navigates a challenging NBA debut, embracing lessons learned from a tough loss and facing off against Victor Wembanyama.
DALLAS — Cooper Flagg’s first NBA game didn’t unfold like the highlight reel many imagined, but the No. 1 overall pick took it in stride — even while going toe-to-toe with one of the league’s most unguardable forces.
The Dallas Mavericks rookie finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 125-92 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night — a humbling debut that served as both a reality check and a lesson in patience.
“Not great,” Flagg said afterward. “Obviously, I didn’t play incredibly well. But you got to move past it and try to focus on Friday (against Washington). It’s basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s not always going to be perfect. But you got to adjust and be better on the fly.”
Facing Victor Wembanyama in his first game was a tall order, literally and figuratively. The 7-foot-4 Spurs star erupted for 40 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks, overwhelming Dallas on both ends of the floor. Flagg, who had never faced a player of Wembanyama’s size or skill, said it was an eye-opening experience.
“Yeah, I mean, he’s incredible,” Flagg said. “He’s a different player. Like I said, you don’t know what it’s like until you’re out there on the court with him. It’s something I’ve never seen before. He was great tonight, but we got to do a better job of trying to just take away some of his looks and not find him as much as we did. Just things like that — not giving up any easy looks.”
Flagg acknowledged that part of his learning curve will be figuring out how to navigate elite rim protectors like Wembanyama without forcing the issue.
“Just got to move the ball,” he said. “You know he’s going to be there every time, so when he comes to help, just find the open man.”
After a scoreless first half, Flagg showed flashes of why Dallas drafted him No. 1. He opened the third quarter with a smooth mid-range jumper for his first NBA points, then added a sequence of three straight baskets, including a strong reverse layup through contact that energized the crowd.
“I was excited, but I’m excited to keep going,” Flagg said. “Obviously it hurts, the first loss being like that, but you’ve just got to look forward to the next one. We know we’ve got a lot better showings than that, so stay positive and lock in on the next one.”
Jason Kidd said Flagg’s poise and composure were impressive given the magnitude of the moment.
“I thought Cooper played within himself,” Kidd said. “He took what the defense gave him, was making plays and diving on the floor. He’s not going to go out there and shoot every time he touches it. He tries to play the game the right way. As a rookie, he did fine.”
Kidd added that he liked how Flagg responded after halftime.
“I thought he came out in the third and tried to be aggressive,” Kidd said. “The stat line isn’t going to say that, but he’ll learn from this game. We all will. And we’ll be better next time we take the floor.”
Flagg said he used halftime to reflect and reset.
“No, just reflecting — thinking about the first half and taking what the defense was giving me,” he said. “Trying to assert myself a bit, but just taking what was there. I got to be a little more aggressive off the rip.”
Even from the sideline, veteran guard Kyrie Irving found a moment to pull the rookie aside with a quick message.
“(He said) just keep your head up,” Flagg said. “It’s a long game, lots of possessions left. Forget whatever happened, continue to play, and keep your head up.”
The rookie also noted the atmosphere inside American Airlines Center — his first taste of the home crowd under the bright lights.
“Man, I felt a lot of support,” Flagg said. “The fans were great; they had a lot of energy. But we got to give them something more to stay hyped for. That’s on us. They showed up and were great.”
Though the night belonged to Wembanyama, Flagg said he’s already eager for the rematch — and ready to apply what he learned from facing one of the game’s most unique players.
“It’s basketball,” he said. “You’re going to have ups and downs. I’m just ready to get back to work and get better for the next one.”
The Mavericks (0-1) will look to bounce back Friday night when they host the Washington Wizards at American Airlines Center.