Facing NBA debut pressure, Cooper Flagg found veteran wisdom from Kyrie Irving, guiding him through a challenging first game and a crucial learning curve.
DALLAS — Kyrie Irving couldn’t suit up for the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, but his presence still carried weight. As rookie forward Cooper Flagg adjusted to the speed and pressure of his first NBA game — a 125-92 loss to the San Antonio Spurs — Irving’s advice from the sideline offered a moment of calm.
“(He said) just keep your head up,” Flagg said. “It’s a long game, there were a lot of possessions left, so just forget about whatever happened and keep your head up.”
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in June’s draft, finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds in his debut. It was a challenging night from start to finish — his shot wasn’t falling, and he spent much of the game navigating one of the league’s most unique matchups in Victor Wembanyama, who erupted for 40 points and 15 rebounds.
“Not great,” Flagg said of his performance. “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.”
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said the moment was an important first step for the 19-year-old, praising the way Flagg handled himself despite the stage and the struggles.
“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 one that’s not going to go out there and shoot every time he touches it. He tries to play the game the right way.”
Kidd added that the performance offered early lessons that will help Flagg grow into the kind of player Dallas expects him to become.
“I like the way he played,” Kidd said. “He’s going to be one of the best players to play this game. For him to see as a rookie how they’re playing him, to be able to go back and watch the tape — because he’s going to see it again — so he can get better… with a double-double to come out as a rookie is not bad.”
Anthony Davis echoed Kidd’s view, reminding that early struggles are part of the adjustment process.
“It’s Game one. He’s still a rookie,” Davis said. “When Game one comes around, packed stadium and national TV game – everything (on social media) was No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and Wemby matchup. So you’re hearing it. First-game jitters when it’s time for the real thing. He’ll be fine. It’s Game one. We’re all going to be better.”
For Flagg, Irving’s words summed up the lesson of the night — to stay steady no matter how the game unfolds.
“I felt a lot of support,” Flagg said. “The fans were great and had a lot of energy, but we got to give them something a little bit more to stay hyped for, so that’s on us. But they showed up and they were great.”
The Mavericks (0-1) will look to regroup Friday when they host the Washington Wizards, as Flagg continues his early education in the NBA — with a steady veteran voice already in his corner.