‘Excited To Get Out There’: Cooper Flagg Set For NBA Preseason Debut With Dallas Mavericks In Fort Worth

Grant AfsethOctober 6, 2025October 21, 2025no comment

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Cooper Flagg’s first NBA game won’t count in the standings, but it already carries the weight of months of anticipation. When the Dallas Mavericks open their preseason Monday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickies Arena, all eyes will be on the 18-year-old forward — the No. 1 overall pick who has spent training camp earning respect inside a veteran locker room.

“Yeah, I’m excited,” Flagg said. “It’s obviously preseason, like you said, but it’s another step in the right direction, getting down the road and getting ready for the season. I’m excited to be able to get out there with the guys. We’ve been practicing and playing hard for a while now out here in the summer, so I’m excited to just get on the court and really play somebody else.”

The game marks both Flagg’s NBA debut and the first time the Mavericks have played at Dickies Arena — a showcase for Fort Worth that’s been years in the making.

Earning Respect in Camp

From day one of camp in Vancouver, Flagg’s approach drew praise. It wasn’t his shooting or highlight plays that caught teammates’ attention, but his consistency and willingness to compete through every rep.

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

Anthony Davis, who has taken on a mentoring role, said he’s been impressed by how quickly Flagg has adjusted to the professional pace. Davis said Flagg’s feel for the game is far beyond his age and that his ability to absorb feedback instantly is what separates him

“He looks comfortable,” Davis said. “He can block shots and he can jump, he can rebound. He can defend one through five. I had some conversations with him. I didn’t have vets like he does — like with myself, Klay, Caleb, Kyrie — where you can go to them and talk. I told him today in practice, we were doing a drill and he was hesitant about kicking the guy out, and I said, you’re very great defensively where you have the ability to grab him and throw him and tell him to get to his position. And we’ve got to be able to do that, not just because he’s a rookie, but because we want to win.”

Davis added that Flagg’s instincts on defense make him ready for real assignments from day one. He said the Mavericks plan to challenge the rookie early with matchups against elite scorers — not as a test, but as a sign of trust.

“He has the talent to do so,” Davis said. “He can cover a lot of ground — force guys get beat — he can cover up for us. He has a lot of talent on both ends of the floor, but defensively, he’s going to show it. We’re going to put him in situations where you have to guard maybe the best wing — have to guard Durant or Jimmy Butler or these guys. And we have enough confidence in him to go out and send him out there and be able to guard those guys. But he’s also got help on the back line with the other four guys on the floor.”

A Confident Locker Room Backing Him

Flagg’s development has also been supported by the Mavericks’ strong chemistry — one that’s been praised throughout training camp. Veterans have made a concerted effort to keep practices competitive but constructive, creating an environment where younger players can speak up, make mistakes, and learn on the fly. The mix of experience and energy has allowed Flagg to find his voice early, something the coaching staff has emphasized as part of his growth.

Naji Marshall, who spent much of the summer working out alongside Flagg, said the rookie’s improvement has been obvious.

“He’s amazing,” Marshall said. “I’ve been working out with him all summer, so I’ve seen it. The first day, he was trying to figure it out, but the last two days, he just played his game and looked pretty comfortable to me.”

Dereck Lively II, one of the team’s emotional anchors, said he’s made it a point to ensure Flagg knows he’s not alone in adjusting to the league.

“He’s fun,” Lively said. “He’s out here asking questions, trying to understand the game. He’s the No. 1 pick, so everyone’s going to challenge him, go at him, try to pick on him. I’m just trying to show him: you’re not alone. We’re a team. No matter if they pick on you, we’re all going to pick on them. We’ve got his back — good game, bad game, we’ll always be there for him.”

That team-first mindset has carried through every session of camp. Head coach Jason Kidd said the intensity between the Blue and White scrimmage units has made daily work feel like game competition.

“Both teams are pushing each other — white’s pushing blue, blue’s pushing white,” Kidd said. “The conditioning aspect of our offense is going to help us because we’re playing faster. It’s been really, really good up to this point.”

Focused on Competing

Even with the excitement of his first NBA appearance, Flagg said he’s trying to simplify his approach — trusting his preparation and effort. He’s spent months working under the Mavericks’ player development staff, fine-tuning details of his shooting mechanics, defensive positioning, and conditioning to match the physical pace of the NBA.

“I haven’t had those discussions,” he said of his expected minutes. “It’s more about just, you know, when you’re out there, whoever’s out there on the court — coaches are just telling us to go out there and compete, keep our pace high. Those are the things we want to focus on, just really competing and trying to work on stuff.”

And while nerves are expected, he’s embracing them. He admitted that butterflies are always part of his pregame routine, even going back to his high school days, but said they’ve become a signal that he’s ready for the moment.

“Yeah, I mean, there’s always nerves for me, whatever game it is,” he said. “But for me, nerves are usually a good thing — getting me pumped up, getting me excited, getting me ready. So yeah, I’m kind of expecting those all the time.”

Flagg’s focus for his debut is simple. He said he isn’t measuring success by points or stats, but by whether he’s playing hard and making the right reads — defending without fouling, running the floor, and trusting his instincts.

“Just competing,” he said. “Just trying to compete at a high level — playing really hard, playing really physical, playing with good pace, making good decisions. That’s really it — just competing at a high level and trying to make the right plays.”

A New Chapter Begins

Flagg’s first night in an NBA uniform is only the beginning, but within the Mavericks’ locker room, there’s a shared confidence that he’s built for the stage. As Davis put it, Dallas won’t be easing him in gently. The rookie will see real defensive assignments — and real expectations.

Through training camp, he’s shown he’s ready for exactly that: the grind, the challenges, and the growth that comes with the spotlight. His teammates see it too. P.J. Washington said Flagg’s game translates effortlessly to the Mavericks’ system.

“He can pretty much do everything on the floor,” Washington said. “He’s very versatile, good size, can shoot, defend, and make the right play. He’s going to fit in really well with our system and group. I can’t wait to see him go up against other teams — I think he’s going to be really good this season.”

Max Christie echoed that confidence, calling Flagg’s adaptability and basketball IQ advanced beyond his years. Flagg’s ability to process concepts quickly and apply them in scrimmages has stood out to everyone, particularly in how seamlessly he fits alongside the team’s veteran core.

“He’s very versatile and has great positional size,” Christie said. “He’s young but picks up things quickly. We’re happy to have him and to implement him into our system. He only adds to what we’re doing on both ends of the floor. That means more wins for us, and that’s what we’re trying to do — win and compete for a championship.”

For Flagg, the focus remains simple.

“Looking forward to the journey,” he said. “There’s always goals. Obviously, I’d like to be rookie of the year – a lot of success, lot of wins. But just be myself, stay true to who I am and impacting the game in a lot of different ways.”

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Tags :Anthony Davis Cooper Flagg Dallas Mavericks Dereck Lively II Jason Kidd Klay Thompson Naji Marshall NBA News NBA Preseason Oklahoma City Thunder

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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