Why's Cooper Flagg Eating A Sandwich During Dallas Mavs Game?

Cooper Flagg on Sunday night in the Dallas Mavs' easy 130-93 win over the visiting Brooklyn Nets ate up the NBA East foe as he had 25 points and a career-high 12 assists.

And in his spare time while on the bench?

The defending NBA Rookie of the Year ate up a peanut butter-and-jerry sandwich.

in the Dallas Mavericks’ 130-93 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night. He also ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich during the game.

It was a lightly comical scene and a fun moment for the Mavs' 19-year-old star, who exploded onto the scene a year ago when the Duke standout was first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and then led Dallas in total points, rebounds, assists and steals.

He is doing much the same thing year, but as he grows - in stature as a player and then literally, as he's gotten taller this year and is now listed at 6-foot-9 - he's also trying to keep up his weight.

“Listen, I thought about this,” said Flagg, who weighs 205 pounds. “I want to give a shout out to our strength staff. Our medical staff, they’re the best in the business, and I’m trying to put on some weight, keep gaining muscle. So those requirements I got to meet, and I’m just trying to stay ahead of it.''

Yeah, yeah, but ... a PB&J in the middle of a game?

Lamar Odom once entered the Mavs media dining room at halftime of a game to grab a snack. And coach Barry Switzer, representing the Dallas Cowboys at the Pro Bowl in the 90's, once at a hot dog during the all-star game.

But this is a new wrinkle - and yet a justifiable one, Flagg insists.

"We got another game (Monday),'' he noted, "so just trying to get my calories and stay ahead of it, and be ready for another one ...''

As it happens, Flagg likes his jelly to be grape and he likes his peanut butter to be smooth.

“I can’t do the crunchy,” Flagg explained with a grin.

Said teammate Daniel Gafford: "Man, he works in the weight room every day, and I’m pretty sure he’s building his body mass throughout this season. So, I mean, it was shown on full display tonight.”

Indeed, as Flagg put up big numbers but played only 28 minutes. He was able to check out for good with 8:28 left in the fourth quarter, a help for the surprisingly solid Mavs, who at 6-4 disposed of the 2-8 Nets with ease and on Monday night at 7 p.m.at the AAC play host to an Indiana Pacers team with a 3-7 record.

“I’d love to do this every night if possible,” first-year Mavs coach Dusty May said of closing out games early. “No, obviously, to not have to go to the wire, it’s less taxing mentally and physically ... So hopefully they get a good night’s rest.''

And maybe a PB&J, too.