‘It’s Game One’: Cooper Flagg’s Debut Overshadowed By Victor Wembanyama’s 40-Point Display
Cooper Flagg’s NBA debut was supposed to be the start of something new in Dallas. Instead, Victor Wembanyama reminded everyone why he already owns the stage.
The 7-foot-4 San Antonio Spurs star overwhelmed the Mavericks on opening night, finishing with 40 points on 15-of-21 shooting, 15 rebounds, and three blocks in a 125-92 win before a sellout crowd of 20,122 at American Airlines Center.
It was the Mavericks’ second straight loss to San Antonio — their first such skid since 2019 — and dropped them to 8-2 in their last 10 games against the Spurs.
Victor Wembanyama Sets the Tone Early
From tip-off, Wembanyama’s presence dictated the rhythm and space of the game. His seven dunks, quick footwork, and soft shooting touch made him virtually unguardable, while his rim protection forced the Mavericks into rushed jumpers. Behind him, San Antonio owned the interior, outscoring Dallas 68-26 in points in the paint, while also holding a 31-8 advantage in fast-break points.
Afterward, head coach Jason Kidd reflected on the challenge of facing a player who can dominate the game in so many ways. He praised the third-year forward’s rare combination of agility and size.
“Defensively, you’ve got to account for him,” Kidd said. “He can be guarding someone and still block a jump shot. He’s always coming to change shots. Offensively, he can handle. At 7 – whatever he wants to be listed at – (he has) the ability to play plenty minutes at point center, point forward, point guard. His skill set is set, so he causes a problem on the offensive end as well as the defensive end. That’s why he is special.”
Kidd, who has coached against a generation of elite bigs, said Wembanyama’s physical gifts still defy comparison.
“Victor on defense, he can cover the whole floor,” Kidd added. “He can dunk without jumping. He is different.”
Behind Wembanyama’s dominance, the Spurs shot 57.5% from the floor and outrebounded Dallas 50-37 (including 11 offensive boards). Dallas shot 37.3% but hit 9-of-21 from three (42.9%), marking the 13th time in franchise history — and first since 2004-05 — that the Mavericks have opened a season above 40% from deep in consecutive years.
Jason Kidd: “We Lost Focus”
Dallas started sharp, building an early rhythm to lead 29-28 after the first quarter. Then foul trouble and turnovers shifted momentum. Dereck Lively II, Anthony Davis, and P.J. Washington each picked up multiple fouls, and San Antonio closed the half on a 13-0 run to lead 60-51.
Kidd said the Mavericks’ breakdowns stemmed from lapses in concentration more than scheme. He emphasized how quickly a game can unravel when energy dips and execution slips.
“I thought the end of the second (quarter) is where we kind of lost our focus on offense on the floor turning the ball over,” Kidd said. “When you give up 31 fast break points you’re not going to win a lot of games. So, this is good to learn – Game 1 – to learn from.”
He went on to stress the importance of controlling the glass, noting how extra possessions fueled San Antonio’s runs.
“We’ve got to rebound the ball,” Kidd said. “We didn’t rebound the ball. Defensively, we got to rebound the ball. They came up with second opportunities that turned into paint scores or open threes, so we’ve got to be better.”
Washington, who spent much of the night switching onto Wembanyama, said Dallas must improve its physical discipline. He described Wembanyama’s performance as clinical.
“He had a great game tonight,” Washington said. “He almost hit every shot he took. We’ve got to do a better job of not fouling, a better job of being solid. It’s a team effort. We can’t just leave one guy on him.”
Later, he expanded on how the Spurs’ size and timing disrupted Dallas’ sets.
“Defensively, he blocked shots, he stopped lobs, he was in gaps,” Washington added. “We just got to do a better job of being smarter when he’s out there and just make better decisions as a whole group.”
Anthony Davis Leads the Frontcourt
Davis anchored the Mavericks with 22 points, 13 rebounds, two steals, and a block. His night included his 382nd career 20-point double-double, surpassing Larry Bird for 19th on the all-time list. By halftime, he already had 12 points and 10 boards — the 80th half-time double-double of his career, tying Kevin Love for eighth-most since 1996-97.
He started hot, posting 10 points and five rebounds in the first quarter — his 186th quarter with at least those totals, most in the league since records began. Afterward, Davis pointed to fouling and defensive control as areas that doomed Dallas.
“We fouled way too much, especially in the second half,” Davis said. “We’ll learn from it.”
Washington contributed 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting with five rebounds, while Klay Thompson added 10. Rookie Ryan Nembhard chipped in eight points and five assists, tying Steve Alford and Jamal Mashburn for the fourth-most assists by a Mavericks rookie in a debut.
Cooper Flagg Learns Through Experience
At 18 years and 305 days old, Flagg became the second-youngest player ever to make his NBA debut — two days older than LeBron James in 2003 — and the fifth Maverick to record a double-double in his first game. He joined Mark Aguirre (1981), Jason Kidd (1994), Dennis Smith Jr. (2017) and Dereck Lively II (2023) on that list.
After a quiet first half, Flagg found rhythm in the third quarter with a mid-range jumper for his first points, then scored on three straight possessions, including a reverse layup through contact. His 10 rebounds tied Lively and Roy Tarpley for second-most by a Dallas rookie in a debut, one shy of Aguirre’s franchise record.
Following the game, Flagg was candid about the learning curve. He spoke calmly, acknowledging his struggles but focusing on improvement.
“Not great,” Flagg said. “Obviously, I didn’t play incredibly well. But you got to move past it and try to focus on Friday (against Washington). I was excited, but I’m excited to keep going. Obviously it hurts, the first loss being like that, but try to look forward to the next one, turn the page and get ready. We know we got a lot better showings than that. So stay positive and lock in on the next one.”
Kidd, asked how his rookie handled the spotlight, said the coaching staff valued Flagg’s composure more than the box score. He emphasized the teenager’s willingness to play within the team structure.
“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. And I thought he came out in the third and tried to be aggressive. He’s going to learn from this game. We all will.”
Later, Kidd said Flagg’s potential was already obvious, even in defeat.
“I like the way he played,” Kidd added. “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.”
Veterans Offer Perspective
Davis, reflecting on the pressure of a debut played under national scrutiny, said Flagg’s performance was typical of a first outing against elite competition.
“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.”
From the bench, injured guard Kyrie Irving offered steady guidance. During a third-quarter timeout, he pulled Flagg aside to help him reset.
“(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 later described how the atmosphere at American Airlines Center energized him despite the result, recalling one light-hearted moment during the national anthem when fans replaced the word “flag” with his name.
“During the anthem, the crowd yelled ‘Flagg’ when it got to ‘our flag was still there,’” he said. “That was kind of cool.”
Familiar Face Returns
The game also marked the return of Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney, who spent four seasons on Kidd’s staff in Dallas. Kidd said seeing a trusted colleague across the sideline was both strange and gratifying.
“His IQ,” Kidd said. “He’s always prepared and ready for the moment. The Spurs got a really good assistant coach.”
San Antonio head coach Mitch Johnson, beginning his first full season after Gregg Popovich’s retirement, said Sweeney was hired because of his reputation around the league, not simply his familiarity with the Mavericks.
“Sean’s résumé speaks for itself,” Johnson said. “Around the league, he’s had tremendous success. He’s been with J-Kidd at a few different stops. There’s a reason that he was identified and we wanted to bring him and give him a big responsibility as part of our team.”
Johnson clarified that Sweeney’s knowledge of Dallas was incidental.
“He knows these guys (the Mavericks) well, but there’s very little secrets,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of film on everybody. And we probably watch too much of it.”
Injury Update and What’s Next
Dallas played short-handed with Daniel Gafford (ankle), Kyrie Irving (knee surgery), and Danté Exum (knee management) all sidelined, while Miles Kelly was inactive.
Asked about Gafford’s absence, Kidd said the center wasn’t ready to return yet.
“He’s sore, that’s why he’s out,” Kidd said. “We’ll see how he feels (Thursday).”
The Mavericks went 21-of-26 from the line (.808 FT %) — a mark they reached only eight times last season on at least 25 attempts — but it wasn’t enough to offset Wembanyama’s impact.
Washington summarized the team’s mood plainly as players packed up for the night.
“We weren’t good at anything,” Washington said. “So we obviously have a lot of room to grow, a lot of room to work on, so we’ll be better. It’s just one game. It’s just a tough loss.”
Dallas will try to rebound Friday when it hosts the Washington Wizards at American Airlines Center.
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