Dallas Mavericks Training Camp Notebook: Cooper Flagg Shines During First Practice in Vancouver
The Dallas Mavericks launched their 2025 training camp on Tuesday with a high-energy practice that featured teaching, competition, and a first look at rookie forward Cooper Flagg against NBA veterans.
Head coach Jason Kidd said the opening day set the right tone.
“Day one, yeah. I thought it was great,” Kidd said. “The energy was high, the talk was high. It was a positive day. For the length of time that we were out there, there were a lot of positive things.”
Kidd emphasized that the early days of camp are about more than just drills. He wants the Mavericks to set “championship habits” and build strong player-to-player communication.
“We’ve talked about having fun. We talked about championship habits,” Kidd said. “And I think just the relationship building, being able to talk, having player-to-player conversations. When players are talking to each other, they’re figuring it out. I thought it was a lot of that today, which as coaches we would invite throughout training camp and the season.”
Kidd added that competition was high across three practice groups.
“All three teams were trying to win in the drills,” Kidd said. “We’re pushing each other to be the best, to make the game hard. The guys executed at a high level, especially for a first day with a lot of teaching.”
New Staff, New Voices
Training camp also marked the debut of a revamped coaching staff, and Kidd said he was encouraged by how quickly they established a presence. With Frank Vogel, Jay Triano, Popeye Jones, and others joining the bench, the head coach praised their teaching and communication from the first whistle.
“There’s a lot of new, especially with the staff,” Kidd said. “I thought Frank and Jay did an incredible job, but I thought Popeye and the rest of the coaches, Josh—the whole coaching staff—did a really good job today with their energy, their talk, and their teaching.”
The Mavericks are also blending in new personnel on the court. Veteran guard D’Angelo Russell impressed Kidd with his willingness to lead on the first day.
“He fits in. Day one, he was great,” Kidd said. “Being new, sometimes you can be hesitant to talk, but I thought his voice with his new teammates was at a high level, and we need that. He’s a vet. His skillset is extremely high, but I thought his voice was really good today.”
Lineup experimentation was another focus, with Kidd noting that Dallas will use both single- and double-big looks depending on the matchup. He mentioned Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and Flagg as options to anchor the frontcourt.
“You can see a lot of teams are going with two bigs,” Kidd said. “The last couple championship teams have gone with two bigs. So, there’s a balance—shooting threes, taking layups, getting free throws. For us, it’s going to be a balance of having two bigs, having one big. It doesn’t have to be AD. It could be Gaff, it could be D-Live, it could be Coop. We’re very fortunate to have a lot of different options.”
Kidd also praised Dennis Smith Jr. for standing out with the “white team” in practice.
“Dennis was great. He was another guy that stood out in day one,” Kidd said. “His energy—we all know his abilities, super athletic—but I thought he was really good with the white team today.”
Klay Thompson Refreshed and Optimistic
Klay Thompson entered camp looking like a veteran with renewed energy. The five-time All-Star said his offseason left him rested and motivated to help establish the team’s culture.
“I had a long, refreshing offseason, so I channeled that energy into the first practice,” Thompson said. “It felt great to see our team nearly complete and competing. It was so much fun.”
Thompson said he wanted the opening day to set the tone for resiliency and a relentless approach.
“Learn about the team. Get a feel, compete, and set the foundation for what’s to come,” Thompson said. “We’re trying to set a standard for the culture here—that we’re going to push through adversity, play when we’re tired, and be relentless in chasing our goals.”
One of Thompson’s first impressions was of Flagg, who he said stood out for his commitment.
“Cooper did great,” 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.”
Thompson also highlighted the team’s depth and potential defensively, especially with Anthony Davis anchoring the paint.
“Absolutely, especially defensively,” Thompson said. “It’s going to feel great to know you’ve got the luxury of the best shot blockers in the league behind you. That gives you confidence to press into the offensive player, to gamble in passing lanes. There’s no reason we can’t be the highest-rated defensive team in the NBA.”
Rookie Cooper Flagg Gets First Practice
Flagg’s debut practice was a chance to measure himself against the pace of the NBA, and the rookie said the experience was both demanding and rewarding.
“It was good. We’ve done a good job ramping up and being in the gym, so it’s good to get out here,” Flagg said. “A lot longer of a day, but it’s fun bumping and getting in with the guys.”
The 18-year-old top pick said he is trying to balance excitement with patience.
“I’m ready. I’m excited. I’m just trying to take it one step at a time, enjoy every process, every step of the way,” Flagg said. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I’m really excited.”
Defense was a priority, and Flagg pointed to the Mavericks’ length as a strength.
“Utilizing our size,” Flagg said. “We’ve got a lot of tall, lengthy position players. Using that to our advantage, covering a lot of ground with our length—that’s going to help us.”
He added that communication is equally important.
“Communication and dedication to playing hard,” Flagg said. “Having five guys on the court communicating and bought in to get stops every possession.”
Flagg said the chance to practice alongside players he grew up watching was surreal.
“I can learn so much just from being on the court, watching them play, feeling the spacing and different things they do,” Flagg said. “It’s been incredible.”
The first practice, he added, had an intensity that never let up.
“We were competing from the jump—shell drills, defensive drills,” Flagg said. “Guys were locked in and competing at a high level.”
The rookie admitted he occasionally slipped into using old Duke terminology, but said learning to communicate in any way is most important.
“It’s different, but it’s all the same thing at the end of the day,” Flagg said. “You just have to get accustomed to saying different things. Sometimes I mess up and say the old terminology from Duke, but saying something is better than saying nothing.”
Flagg said his mindset is to leave an imprint while not overstepping.
“Just playing my game while fitting in,” Flagg said. “Putting my stamp on the game, impacting it in the ways I know I can, and not fading into the background.”
Next Steps
The Mavericks will continue working in Vancouver the rest of the week, and Kidd said the first day laid groundwork for the type of cohesion the staff wants to build.
“Day one, yeah. There was a lot of positive response to the teaching, a lot of energy,” Kidd said. “We’re beginning to understand. We’ve got a long way to go, but I thought today’s energy was at a very high level, and it’s something to build on for tomorrow.”
For Flagg, that means continuing to lean on veteran leaders such as Davis, Kyrie Irving and Thompson, who he watched as a fan before joining them as a teammate.
“For sure—AD, Kyrie, Klay,” Flagg said. “I was a big fan watching Klay when he was on the Warriors’ big run. So it’s cool to be on the same team as them.”
He added that Vancouver has provided a unique backdrop for his first professional camp.
“I’ve never been to Canada at all,” Flagg said. “It’s really beautiful. Cool to be up here and in a new place.”
The Mavericks will return to Dallas ahead of the preseason after wrapping up camp in Vancouver.
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