DHJ Quick Take: The Poster of the Year?
- The Statement: In front of the Clippers’ coordinated “Wall,” Cooper Flagg delivered what he called his “favorite” dunk of the season. The one-handed slam over the 7-foot-1 Brook Lopez earned a massive 116.8 on the NBA’s tracking-based dunk score, tying for the sixth-highest mark of the 2025-26 season.
- Handling the Heat: Despite relentless “overrated” chants from the Los Angeles faithful, Flagg remained unphased, telling Dallas Hoops Journal the atmosphere “brought me back to my high school days.” His ability to thrive under negative crowd energy has become a defining trait of his rookie campaign.
- Veteran Respect: While Dallas fell 116-103, Marvin Bagley III noted that Flagg‘s ability to “leave his stamp” on games regardless of the final score is “unbelievable.” With Jason Kidd praising the rookie’s fearlessness against elite rim protectors, Flagg enters the final stretch of the season as the undisputed most electric young star in the league.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Cooper Flagg has thrown down plenty of dunks in his rookie season. Tuesday night at Intuit Dome, he found his favorite one.
With the Los Angeles Clippers faithful raining down “overrated” chants, Flagg caught a pass in the paint, rose up, and threw down a dunk over Brook Lopez that drew a roar from the building and caught the attention of the league itself. The NBA scored it at 116.8 — tied for the sixth-highest dunk score of the season.
“It’s up there — probably my favorite from this year so far,” Flagg said. “He’s a big dude with a strong presence in the paint, so yeah, that’s a cool one for sure.”
Lopez is not a small obstacle. The veteran center finished Tuesday with 9 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots — one of the most physically imposing defensive presences Flagg has faced all season. Head coach Jason Kidd had specifically addressed Lopez’s rim protection at halftime as something Dallas needed to account for in the second half.
“Brook — I thought he made some great plays at the rim,” Kidd said. “If he didn’t block shots, he changed them. That was something we talked about at halftime — being more aware of him.”
Flagg was aware. He went over him anyway.
The Wall and the Chants
The moment was made richer by what preceded it. The Clippers’ fan section had deployed the “wall” — a coordinated signage tactic designed to distract opposing free throw shooters — and the “overrated” chants had been building throughout the night. Flagg said the scene took him somewhere else entirely.
“I wouldn’t say it motivated me,” Flagg said. “That’s something I’ve heard since high school, so it kind of brought me back a little bit. The whole wall thing is kind of funny — you don’t see that in the league very often. It definitely took me back to my high school days.”
He paused, then smiled.
“Yeah, it’s always fun,” Flagg said. “You get energy from the crowd, good or bad. Obviously, the home crowd gets me going, but even from opposing fans, it’s the same thing.”
Marvin Bagley III’s Reaction
Marvin Bagley III, who has watched Flagg up close since arriving in Dallas, offered the perspective of a veteran who has seen plenty of young talent come through NBA locker rooms — and still found himself at a loss for words.
“It’s great,” Bagley said. “I’ve never seen somebody go back-to-back games and do what he’s supposed to do, and even tonight, just leaving his stamp on the game. It’s unbelievable. I don’t see the debate — he’s definitely shown that. I’m just happy he’s able to put these games together and finish the season strong.”
The dunk came on a night when Flagg shot just 9-of-25 from the field, finishing with 25 points and 9 rebounds in the Dallas Mavericks‘ 116-103 loss. The highlight will outlast the box score — a moment from a difficult night that the league’s most compelling rookie made impossible to forget.
The Mavericks continue their three-game road trip Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns at 9 p.m. CT at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.
More Dallas Mavericks Coverage Before Facing the Phoenix Suns
- ‘The Process Is There’: Dallas Mavericks Trust Offensive Blueprint Despite Frigid Shooting In Los Angeles
- ‘It Brought Me Back to My High School Days’: Cooper Flagg Quiets ‘The Wall’ As Dallas Mavericks Fall To Los Angeles Clippers
- ‘A Dream Come True’: Cooper Flagg Makes NBA History Again As Dallas Mavericks End 14-Game Home Skid With 134-128 Win Over Los Angeles Lakers
- ‘That’s What Paul Silas Did For Me’: LeBron James Draws Parallel Between His Rookie Role And Cooper Flagg’s
- ‘He Will Be Unstoppable’: Cooper Flagg’s Three-Point Statement Gives Blueprint For NBA Dominance
- ‘They’re Very Similar’: Jason Kidd Breaks Down The LeBron James Parallels For Cooper Flagg
- ‘He’s In Rare Air’: Cooper Flagg Scores 51 Points In Historic Performance, But Dallas Mavericks Fall To Orlando Magic
