Cooper Flagg‘s long-awaited preseason debut was marked by success as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 106-89 result. Flagg’s impressive performance is a positive sign, as he will be paired with Mavericks star Anthony Davis for the foreseeable future. In this regard, Flagg also detailed his experience of playing alongside a talented big man like Davis after the game.
“I think it’s interesting. It’s a different style of basketball that I haven’t played with before,” Flagg stated. “But it just allows me to expand my game, play on the perimeter a lot, and kind of just help the fluidity with AD, me, we both can play a guard position and just play that positionless basketball. So it’s not really like playing with two bigs. But just having that size, it really plays into our advantage defensively.”
The Mavericks’ frontcourt pair was quite impactful on both ends of the court. Davis, who is expected to shoulder a majority of the burden for Dallas in Kyrie Irving‘s absence, posted seven points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, shooting 3-for-5 from the field.
Meanwhile, Flagg impressed with a noteworthy performance of 10 points, six rebounds, three assists on 3-for-6 shooting, and a highlight-worthy block in the first quarter, which effectively set the tone for the rest of the game.
COOPER FLAGG BLOCK ➡️ AD SLAM pic.twitter.com/KjgZjSYWY1
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) October 7, 2025
It is important to note that Flagg and Davis were placed on minutes restrictions before the game, with both being limited to only playing the first half. Considering that neither played over 20 minutes for the night, the result is largely favorable as it points to the contributions of the remainder of Dallas’ rotation, especially with players such as PJ Washington, Max Christie, and Jaden Hardy stepping up for the team.
Cooper Flagg’s Development Will Be Crucial
The Mavericks will be heavily invested in Cooper Flagg’s development over the course of the season. While the No. 1 overall pick is poised to emerge as a Rookie of the Year candidate, it is evident that Dallas expects even more from the 19-year-old.
With Kyrie Irving sidelined for an uncertain amount of time, as he continues his recovery journey, having Flagg embrace the role of the second star and step up as a contributor will be vital in helping the Mavericks secure a playoff berth this season.
In this regard, the young forward already seems to be adapting to Dallas’ system. After impressing his teammates and the Mavs’ coaching staff at training camp, the 19-year-old could certainly leverage his versatility as an asset in helping him carve out a significant role in the rotation.
However, Dallas would also be advised to manage the forward’s workload. Given how prone to injury younger players have been in recent years, ensuring that Cooper Flagg can remain healthy and available will be essential.
