‘You Don’t Know Until You’re Out There’: Cooper Flagg Reflects On First Matchup With Victor Wembanyama
Cooper Flagg’s NBA debut didn’t go according to plan, but it offered a crash course in just how extraordinary Victor Wembanyama has become.
Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks’ No. 1 overall pick, posted 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 125-92 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. While it was a humbling experience, it was also an education — one that began with the 7-foot-4 French star dominating on both ends of the floor.
“Yeah, I mean, he’s incredible,” Flagg said. “He’s a different player. Like I said, you don’t know what it’s like until you’re out there on the court with him. It’s something I’ve never seen before. He was great tonight, but we got to do a better job of trying to just take away some of his looks and not find him as much as we did. Just things like that — not giving up any easy looks.”
Cooper Flagg’s Lesson in Patience
Wembanyama erupted for 40 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks, controlling the paint and making life difficult for anyone attempting to score inside. For Flagg, it was the ultimate introduction to what separates NBA stars from everyone else.
“Not great,” Flagg said of his performance. “Obviously, I didn’t play incredibly well. But you got to move past it and try to focus on Friday (against Washington). It’s basketball. It’s not always going to go your way. It’s not always going to be perfect. But you got to adjust and be better on the fly.”
Flagg said his biggest adjustment will be learning to read defenses anchored by elite rim protectors like Wembanyama.
“Just got to move the ball,” he said. “You know he’s going to be there every time, so when he comes to help, just find the open man.”
Dallas Mavericks Rookie Responding After Halftime
After going scoreless in the first half, Flagg began to find a rhythm in the third quarter, hitting a mid-range jumper for his first NBA points and following with three straight baskets. The stretch included a reverse layup through contact that brought the Dallas crowd to life.
“I was excited, but I’m excited to keep going,” Flagg said. “Obviously it hurts, the first loss being like that, but you’ve just got to look forward to the next one. We know we’ve got a lot better showings than that, so stay positive and lock in on the next one.”
Head coach Jason Kidd said that kind of response showed maturity beyond Flagg’s age.
“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 not going to go out there and shoot every time he touches it. He tries to play the game the right way. As a rookie, he did fine.”
Kidd added that the second-half surge reflected the right mentality.
“I thought he came out in the third and tried to be aggressive,” Kidd said. “The stat line isn’t going to say that, but he’ll learn from this game. We all will. And we’ll be better next time we take the floor.”
Guidance From Kyrie Irving
Even while inactive, Kyrie Irving made sure Flagg kept his composure through the rough patches.
“(He said) just keep your head up,” Flagg said. “It’s a long game, lots of possessions left. Forget whatever happened, continue to play, and keep your head up.”
Flagg also appreciated the crowd’s energy throughout his first official game in Dallas.
“Man, I felt a lot of support,” he said. “The fans were great; they had a lot of energy. But we got to give them something more to stay hyped for. That’s on us. They showed up and were great.”
The Mavericks will look to bounce back Friday against the Washington Wizards — and for Flagg, the lessons from his first encounter with Wembanyama will linger far beyond opening night.
“It’s basketball,” he said. “You’re going to have ups and downs. I’m just ready to get back to work and get better for the next one.”
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