Windhorst: Why Cooper Flagg’s rise is beginning to feel unstoppable

Cooper Flagg scored 33 points with 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks across two preseason games in Macao, China, as the Dallas Mavericks faced the Houston Rockets. He played just 45 minutes combined.

A few Mavericks veterans have kept up a running joke that Flagg still wears a “trainee” name tag and is technically a rookie until he plays the first game of his second season. During the team’s week in China, they assigned him menial duties, including carrying bags. Flagg, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year and the 2025 No. 1 pick, said he sometimes slips past them. “I can sometimes sneak by without them remembering that they want me to be a rookie still. But yeah, they definitely try,” he said.

The rookie label does not fit what Flagg showed on the court. He hunted his shot, set up teammates and played with an assurance that undercuts the idea that he is still new to the league. He also talked constantly during games, a sign that he is moving beyond focusing on his own game and taking in the whole floor. His on-court presence in Macao made that obvious.

“I’m just finding my voice,” Flagg said. “Being so young and a little bit inexperienced is tough sometimes, but I think up to this point, I’ve earned the respect of my teammates, and I’ve gotten that sense that they really respect me and my opinion.”

Flagg has been on the basketball radar since he was 16, starred at Duke and then won the NBA’s top rookie honor. His growing maturity may be underrated right now, partly because the Mavericks, buried in a deep Western Conference, are not drawing much attention.

A Headliner in Macao

The NBA has plenty of other stories. LeBron James is in Philadelphia, Giannis Antetokounmpo is in Miami, and Victor Wembanyama has taken on the unofficial “future face of the league” label while looking for revenge after the New York Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson, ended their 52-year title drought.

In Macao, however, Flagg was the center of attention. His image appeared on buildings throughout the city, and he was the focus of a major shoe event. Inside one of Macao’s high-end malls, he unveiled his personal New Balance logo, which combines his initials with the silhouette of a pine tree, a nod to his home state of Maine.

The trip was as much about business as basketball. NBA commissioner Adam Silver attended meetings with Chinese partners while in town. Flagg’s boss, Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont, served as the week’s host in his role as CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., which operates five resorts in the area with 10,000 combined hotel rooms, along with the Venetian Arena.

Growing Into a Leader

Flagg is just 19 and will not turn 20 until Dec. 21. His polished jumper, improved footwork and clear leadership suggest a player who is maturing quickly.

“He’s going to lead this franchise into the future. You can definitely bank on that,” teammate Kyrie Irving said. “He deserves a lot of the praise he’s gotten because he’s carried a lot. He’s wise beyond his years.”

During a 30-second stretch on Friday, Flagg beat the Rockets defense with a sideways jump stop and drilled a midrange jumper. He then blocked a shot by Amen Thompson, grabbed the rebound, led a fast break and threw down a lob dunk. A few possessions later, Thompson went under a screen while defending Flagg, and Flagg made him pay with a 3-pointer from the top of the key.

“He’s such a versatile player, someone that literally can score three levels,” Mavericks first-year coach Dusty May said. “He can make defensive plays on and off the ball.”

A Strong Rookie Season

Flagg’s rookie year was already remarkable. He became the first rookie since Michael Jordan in 1984-85 to lead his team in total points, rebounds, assists and steals. He also became the fourth rookie since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77 to average at least 20 points, six rebounds and four assists, joining Luka Doncic, Larry Bird and Jordan. He set several teenage marks as well, recording four 40-point games, consecutive 40-point games and a 50-point game, each a first for a teenager. He ranked sixth in the league on baskets off drives and, according to GeniusIQ tracking, brought the ball up fifth most among all frontcourt players.

Those numbers placed him in the territory of a mid-career All-Star rather than a rookie on a 26-win team.

“I felt at points last year I was going in blind a little bit,” Flagg said. “Obviously, I hadn’t been through a lot of those experiences before. So, I think just having that this year is a big help. Just feeling prepared, feeling ready. There’s a lot less to worry about.”

Flagg shot 29.5% from 3-point range last season, a weakness he is working to fix. He spent much of the summer training with Irving, who is returning after missing 19 months with a torn left ACL. Teammates and team officials point to Flagg’s work ethic and competitive drive.

“Your talent only gets you so far; being remembered for your work ethic and how you treated people and also that championship mindset you came in with every day, that’s what people hold on to,” Irving said.

“For me as a peer, but also as a brother, I look at him as someone that has a world of potential, but also still needs a lot of guidance just like we all do in basketball, a lot of teaching, a lot of knowledge being passed.”

Pressure and Expectations

Much of Flagg’s development will happen under a national spotlight. The Mavericks have 21 scheduled national television games this season, though not because they are expected to contend. Irving’s return should help, but the team is still recovering from the fallout of the Doncic trade and the failed tenure of Anthony Davis. Dallas has a new coach and a new front office, led by highly regarded president Masai Ujiri.

Ujiri has said the franchise is committed to keeping Irving alongside Flagg, who is 15 years younger than the veteran point guard. Rival front offices question whether Dallas can stick to that plan while it still has roster holes and two stars on different career timelines.

Still, Flagg is now on center stage, and his teammates see that he is ready.

“This is a big responsibility to help him in his evolution to being one of the best,” May said. “A great player’s success is determined by everyone around them. So all of us [being] better teammates, better players, better coaches will contribute to him maximizing his potential.”