Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, selected No. 1 overall in June’s draft, made his practice debut Tuesday and quickly earned recognition from his new teammates. For Klay Thompson, the lasting impression was not about scoring or highlight plays, but about effort.

“Cooper did great,” Thompson said. “I’m most impressed he did not sit out one drill. I don’t care how many shots he misses, how many mistakes he makes. The fact that he’s in there and he’s competing every single drill, that’s what impresses me.”

Flagg steps into a franchise at a turning point. The Mavericks moved on from Luka Dončić in a blockbuster trade and brought in Anthony Davis, shifting the direction of the team while placing added responsibility on the 18-year-old forward. Dallas hopes Flagg can grow into the next face of the franchise, a role already endorsed by Dirk Nowitzki.

The teenager’s response has been to temper expectations while embracing the challenge.

“I’m ready! I’m excited, but I’m trying to take it one step at a time, enjoy every process, every step of the way,” Flagg said. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I’m really excited.”

The Mavericks begin the season with questions surrounding roster health, particularly with Kyrie Irving’s return timetable still unclear. Conflicting signals from head coach Jason Kidd and general manager Nico Harrison have left little certainty about when Irving will be back, creating additional intrigue as Dallas prepares for the preseason.

For Flagg, the best answer was to keep competing. One practice isn’t a full measure of what lies ahead, but his presence on the floor — and his refusal to take breaks — offered the Mavericks an early glimpse of the mindset that could define his rookie season.