Browsing: Flagg

The Dallas Mavericks and rookie Cooper Flagg dropped their first game after parting ways with general manager Nico Harrison, falling to the Phoenix Suns 123–114 at home on Wednesday.

The team announced Tuesday that Harrison had been relieved of his duties “effective immediately” after the Mavericks fell to 3–8 on the season.

The move followed heavy criticism of Harrison’s decision to trade Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February. Doncic has since helped lead the Lakers to an 8–3 record, while Dallas continues to struggle despite boasting a talented roster and the No. 1 overall pick in Flagg.

Fans reacted strongly after the Mavericks dropped their first game following Harrison’s firing, expressing frustration over the team’s continued struggles despite the leadership change.

Flagg finished with 16 points, six rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks, while Klay Thompson added 19 points on 37.5 percent shooting and three rebounds in the loss.

Phoenix’s Devin Booker led the charge with 26 points, nine assists and three rebounds to power the Suns to victory.

The Suns led the Mavericks 65-53 at halftime, paced by 16 points from Devin Booker and 13 from Dillon Brookes. Dallas’ Flagg and Brandon Williams each had seven points at the break, while Klay Thompson added nine.

Phoenix kept control in the fourth quarter, holding a 10-point lead and never letting up, closing out the game with a nine-point victory.

Dallas will host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

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Nicholas Dickason is repping the Dallas Mavericks once again.

The Dallas Mavericks fan, who made headlines for the conversation he had with team governor Patrick Dumont while wearing a No. 77 Luka DonÄić Los Angeles Lakers jersey, was donning a Cooper Flagg jersey for the team’s Wednesday game against the Phoenix Suns at American Airlines Center.

He was also pleased with the team’s decision to fire former general manager Nico Harrison and said, “I’m a Mavs fan. And I’m glad Nico’s gone.”

Dickason was seen talking with Dumont in courtside seats during the Mavericks’ loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. Christian Clark of The Athletic reported that the fan said Dumont expressed regret with the trade that sent DonÄić to the Lakers.

“Basically Patrick was like, he feels horrible for the trade. And wants to make it up to us,” Dickason said. “That’s basically what he said. He accepted my apology for it as well.”

Dickason might not be the only one happy the Mavericks fired Harrison.

NBA insiders Jake Fischer and Ian Begley reported some of the players preferred to play on the road because of the “Fire Nico” chants that echoed through American Airlines Center. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported “maintaining decent morale” had become difficult for players.

The trade sent DonÄić, who was the franchise cornerstone and a fan favorite in Dallas, to Los Angeles for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick. Davis has struggled to stay healthy since arriving with the Mavericks, and DonÄić has continued to thrive for the Purple and Gold.

In fact, he’s averaging 37.1 points per game this season alone for a Lakers team that is 8-3.

By comparison, Dallas is 3-8 and battling near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. But at least the players can take solace knowing Dickason is wearing the home team’s jersey after the Harrison move.

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Whether youâ€re in a Yahoo! High Score league, a Sleeper league, a league with a games cap or simply have so many players with games scheduled that you canâ€t start them all, making a decision about who to start or sit can help you win or lose your matchup.

Obviously, in many leagues, having more games played each week ends up being the difference in a matchup. This is not me saying to bench a player in a points league without a games cap. Even if Iâ€m expecting a terrible game, five points is better than zero!

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The Hornets, Clippers, Lakers, Knicks, Pelicans, Suns, Trail Blazers and Jazz only play once this weekend, so if youâ€re just looking to maximize games, avoid those teams.

Guards:

Start: Donte DiVincenzo, Minnesota Timberwolves

Even with Anthony Edwards back, DiVincenzo is still an important part of the offense in Minnesota. They play two games this weekend, with one of those coming against the Jazz, who have allowed the second-most three-pointers per game this season. DiVincenzo has hit at least five triples in three straight games.

Start: Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns

When Jalen Green made his debut for Phoenix on Thursday, the expectation was that Allen would be moved to the bench. However, Allen remained a starter, with second-year forward Ryan Dunn shifting to a reserve role. Assuming that holds, Allen will get another matchup with the Clippers on Saturday after hitting four three-pointers against them on Thursday.

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Sit: Bradley Beal, LA Clippers

This should be an easy one, but heâ€s still heavily-rostered in Yahoo! leagues. Beal has started every game he has played this season, but heâ€s been limited to 20.3 minutes per game. Against the Suns on Thursday, with Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and James Harden (personal) out, Beal had a great opportunity to get back on track, but he ended up having his worst performance of the year. He might figure things out at some point, but until he proves it, he should be left on the bench.

Sit: CJ McCollum, Washington Wizards

McCollum has had a few decent performances this season, but the last two have been quite rough. Now, the Wizards have a back-to-back with the Cavaliers and Mavericks, two teams who are in the top 10 in points allowed per game this season. This isnâ€t the weekend to bank on McCollum figuring things out.

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Forwards:

Start: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks

Coming off his best performance of the season, Flagg has a strong opportunity this weekend. Dallas takes on the Grizzlies and Wizards, and both teams rank in the bottom three for points allowed per game. With Anthony Davis (calf) still hurt, Flagg is going to be the focal point of the offense again, and heâ€ll have the chance to build on his game against the Pelicans.

Start: Jaime Jaquez Jr., Miami Heat

Jaquez has been really good so far this season, with a couple of subpar performances sprinkled in. However, with Bam Adebayo dealing with a toe injury, and Tyler Herro still out, there will be plenty of usage available in Miami. The Heat play two games this weekend, including one against the Hornets, who have been bottom five in points allowed and bottom three in turnovers forced.

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Sit: Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies

There isnâ€t a lot going right in Memphis right now, but Coward has been a bright spot. Still, matchups with two strong defenses in the Mavericks and Thunder wonâ€t provide Coward with a great opportunity to stay hot. Heâ€s still a great long-term option, and he appears to be the latest draft success for Memphis, but this isnâ€t an ideal weekend for him.

Sit: Cam Johnson, Denver Nuggets

Itâ€s been a rough start to the season for Johnson, and Iâ€m confident heâ€ll get back on track eventually. However, that will happen when he gets going from beyond the arc. Denver will take on the Warriors and Pacers this weekend, and both teams rank in the top 10 in fewest three-pointers allowed per game.

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Centers:

Start: Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers only have one game this weekend, but itâ€s against the Hawks, who have the worst rebounding percentage in the league, per NBA.com/stats. Ayton has two straight 20-point double-doubles, and this is a great opportunity for him to keep that streak going. Ayton started the season off slowly, but heâ€s starting to figure things out.

Start: Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks

Anthony Davis (calf) and Dereck Lively (knee) are still out, and while Gafford wonâ€t play the minutes that many starters will, heâ€ll be a force on the glass against two teams (Memphis and Washington) that rank in the bottom three in rebounds allowed per game. This should be a strong weekend for Gafford.

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Sit: Isaiah Jackson, Indiana Pacers

I know everyone was thinking that Jacksonâ€s three-game hot streak was the start of his breakout, but Iâ€m not confident thatâ€s the case. The Pacers take on the Warriors and Nuggets this weekend, and both teams have been effective on the defensive glass and now allowed many blocked shots. Perhaps thatâ€s because nearly half of the Warriors shot attempts are from deep, and the Nuggets have Nikola Jokic.

Sit: Nic Claxton, Brooklyn Nets

The Nets play the Knicks and Pistons this weekend, and both teams have dominated the glass this year. Claxton has been effective recently, but that has come against some teams that have struggled to rebound this season. This isnâ€t the ideal weekend for Claxton to stay hot.

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Fantasy basketball can feel just like everyday life — full of surprises and stress. When your star player slumps, it’s easy to panic and question your draft choices. In this article, we’ll check our panic meter, spotlighting players who might have you worried about your team.

Let’s dive in!

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Note: Panic scale is from 1-5 🔥

Desmond Bane, Orlando Magic

Magic trick gone wrong?

There’s no sugarcoating this one — Bane has been flat-out disappointing since arriving in Orlando. He’s outside the top 120 in points leagues, and it’s even worse in 9-cat formats, falling outside the top 200. Bane was expected to flourish as a floor-spacing, playmaking 3-point specialist, but it’s not panning out that way early on.

He may have hit rock bottom the past two games, averaging 7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in 21.2 minutes. It’s not unreasonable to consider that it takes time for players to gel in new environments. Bane is accustomed to playing with a ball-dominant point guard, but perhaps a ball-dominant point forward requires a longer adjustment period.

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Bane’s numbers are down in every category except offensive rebounds, so at this point, it can’t get much worse. All that said, my panic level is moderate — and if I had a strong team, I’d look to buy low.

Panic Meter: 🔥🔥

Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

The shot-selection overreaction

Bearing some of the blame for the Magic’s early-season struggles has been Banchero’s inefficiency. Let’s be honest — he’s not a good jump shooter. It’s the shot he takes most often, and he’s never shot over 40% on jumpers in any season of his career. That said, look at these positive developments that are holding through Wednesday:

If Paolo continues to emphasize getting downhill, driving to the hoop and settling for fewer jumpers, the efficiency will improve. Additionally, Banchero has been increasing his rebounding rate, averaging two more rebounds per game this season than in 2024-25. His stocks per game (1.9) are also up year-over-year for now. I was bullish on his growth this season, and I’m sticking to it.

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Panic Meter: 🔥

Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

Morant’s joy (and pain)

The Grizzlies’ season is hanging on the fragile frame of Morant. The injury list is brutal: Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr. and Zach Edey are all down, leaving limited depth in the backcourt and frontcourt. Without Ja being fully locked in, things could unravel quickly. Morant said he’s not playing with “joy” and has been looking less aggressive and engaged during games.

Last season, he didn’t like the offensive system because he had the ball in his hands far less than in previous years. He averaged 68 touches per game. This year, he’s back around his average of 77 touches per game, but the Grizz are 3-5 with Morant getting to the rim less and settling for more jumpers (not a good sign).

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Morant frankly has to play better and with more effort. If it doesn’t arrive, we may face a frustrating situation that inevitably leads to a trade request.

Panic Meter: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks

The rookie with some rope

Let’s pump the brakes on the early Cooper Flagg panic. Yes, the Mavericks are 2-6, but Flagg hasn’t looked completely overwhelmed — he’s been a legit secondary playmaker behind D’Angelo Russell, boosting his assist numbers and showing advanced feel for an 18-year-old forward initiating the offense.

The scoring has been shaky, shooting just 39% from the field, but that appears to be correcting. On Wednesday, he dropped 20 points, 9 boards, 2 assists and 5 stocks, showing flashes of the Duke phenom we expected. He’s trending the right way, and in fantasy terms, his floor is stabilizing. Hold tight, as he’s creeping back into the top 100 in 9-cat leagues.

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Panic Meter: 🔥

Cam Johnson, Denver Nuggets

The struggle is real

Cam Johnson has gone ice cold in Denver. He’s posting nearly career-low numbers across the board, averaging just 8.6 PPG on 38% shooting from the field, 28% from 3, with a noticeable drop in volume and confidence. Whether it’s a lingering shoulder issue or a slow adjustment to Denver’s altitude, something is off.

Johnson’s not contributing in steals, and the dip in efficiency and volume makes him a liability across formats. Yet somehow, he’s still rostered in 79% of leagues. That number’s too high. I’ve dropped him in 12-team formats, and you probably should too.

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Panic Meter: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

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We are still early into the regular season, but it feels like a good time to check in on this yearâ€s rookie class. From the draft to summer league to the preseason, we have a taste of what it looks like in the regular season now. Hope and optimism can transition into a variety of question marks, but these young players are giving their all.

[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. Create or join a league]

A lot of what determines success for a rookie comes down to fit, opportunity and context. Different players will be asked to do different things based on what their team needs. Some have a clear pathway to consistent minutes with an opportunity to grow. Others may find themselves in and out of the lineup, working to stay ready. The most important thing a young player can do early in the season is showcase something they bring to the table every single night. The more reliable you are, the more opportunity you will have to showcase the rest of your game.

(Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

When it comes to rookies, I am always one to press the patience button. The learning curve for taking your skill set through the rigors of an NBA regular season can vary. A slow start does not define an entire campaign, and an early rise does not guarantee sustained success. Game plans may shift, rotations may change, scouting reports may be updated.

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Here are my top 10 rookies through the first couple weeks of the season.

1. VJ Edgecombe, 76ers

Edgecombe scored 34 points in his NBA debut, the third most ever by a rookie, and has not looked back since. His skill set fits right in with what Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid bring to the table. Place him one pass away from Maxey looking to attack 1v1 or an Embiid post-up and he has made defenses pay.

Edgecombe’s consistency from the 3-point line has been a boost for a player who is not afraid to get downhill. His ability to create his own shot is one thing, but his work in pick-and-rolls is another. High pick-and-rolls give him room to get downhill in space, working to not let his defender recover and allowing him to keep attacking. While the shot has been there in the paint, heâ€s been able to force more help and make the right reads to spray the ball to the perimeter. That blend unlocks the Sixers’ drive-and-kick attack and is a big reason theyâ€ve surprised early.

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2. Cedric Coward, Grizzlies

Itâ€s been hard for the Grizzlies to keep Coward off the court, and itâ€s not hard to see why. There is a combination of confidence, energy and effort that jumps off the tape. Itâ€s one thing to hope someone will fill the “3 and D†box, itâ€s another when it happens right away.

Starting the season shooting 48.3% from 3 (14 of 29) stands out, but pay attention to Coward’s cutting when spaced. And his effort on defense is what has made it stick: activity to pressure the ball, including full-court, and the ability to defend multiple positions. Watch for the moments when his man is in the corner, heâ€s in help and he erases the space like that. Leading the Grizzlies’ bench in scoring while being asked to defend Luka DonÄić, Devin Booker and Cade Cunningham within a week speaks volume to his start.

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3. Cooper Flagg, Mavericks

While it has not quite been the start many imagined for Flagg, this is your reminder that context is important and success is not always linear. Dallas has worked to move Flagg around the board, initiating offense, running pick-and-roll, being used as a screener, cutting off screens or clearing a side to let him post up. Defenses have not cooperated and have worked to take pieces of that off the board.

The big area of opportunity for him is setting up defenses when he does get a screen, and continuing to read when he comes off screens. These early reps could prove valuable later as he has a stronger understanding of when a shot is available and when a pass is available. This is nothing new for a young player. Flaggâ€s best moments early have been when heâ€s making quick decisions.

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4. Dylan Harper, Spurs

The unfortunate news of Harper going down to injury not withstanding, it’s appropriate to salute the start of his rookie year. The youngest guard in NBA history to record a game with at least 20+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 0 turnovers, Harper started the season playing with an impressive level of poise.

His drives have been consistent, helping to add to the versatility of the Spurs offense. He never turns down a chance to turn the corner, and heâ€s a very crafty driver. His footwork has proven NBA ready, and his ability to stop on a dime once he gets in the paint, Euro step and finish adds to the attack. The passing and playmaking also adds a different layer when teams show help. A little thing that stands out is Harperâ€s ability to relocate after a drive that opens up a drive-and-kick with Stephon Castle, allowing Harper to then drive closeouts.

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5. Kon Knueppel, Hornets

Knueppel has made more 3s than any other rookie in the class, but it does not stop there. The Hornets wing has recorded the most made 3s (22) of any player in NBA history over their first seven career games, and was the first player in NBA history with three or more made 3s in each of his first four games.

Itâ€s easy to say that Knueppel does a little bit of everything, but when you watch him itâ€s the little things that stand out. When heâ€s spaced on the perimeter, he always does a great job of sliding into an open spot to receive a pass. When heâ€s a screener, he does a great job of running into screens to get his defender on the move, getting good positioning to get a quick touch and slipping out before the defense can switch. He’s not afraid to turn the corner if he sees space, but if he sees nothing he’ll keep things moving.

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6. Jeremiah Fears, Pelicans

Zero fear, zero hesitation, zero miedo. However you slice it, Fears is in attack mode every time he gets on the court. A shift to the starting lineup has allowed the Pelicans guard to display even more of his offensive attack.

Fears is incredibly shifty with the ball in his hands, and he uses that to keep defenses on their heels. You never know when heâ€s going to drive or shoot, but you know itâ€s coming. In pick and roll, that opens up a reject that can set up a re-screen to get to a pull-up. At any point in time, Fears can hesitate and go in pick-and-roll. If the big is back in drop, Fears will attack the space and try to get to a quick finish. And while his defense is not perfect, as of this writing heâ€s second on the Pelicans in deflections per game.

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7. Collin Murray-Boyles, Raptors

If you want the definition of energy, effort, activity, “dog in them,†I present you Murray-Boyles. The Raptors forward consistently plays defense as if everything is on the line on every single possession. There is a physicality and aggression that he plays with that disrupts opponents. Itâ€s not easy to get a clean drive against him and his quick hands. And if you do manage to turn the corner on him, heâ€s working hard to recover and contest.

The real intrigue for me is the off-ball timing that he showcases on defense. If his man is screening and the offense thinks it has space, he turns into a late switch to cut the drive off. The Raptors have found something playing him at the 5, which has unlocked him as a roller as his shot develops.

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8. Tre Johnson, Wizards

Basketball is beautiful thing, and let me tell you there are few things more authentic on this Earth than a true bucket-getter. The most honest hallmark of a bucket-getter is getting shots up and, as I write this, Johnson is averaging 11 field-goal attempts in 25 minutes a night.

Johnson has zero hesitation to get to his quick release whenever he sees a semblance of space. If you close out to take away the 3, prepare to get a sidestep into a 3-pointer anyway. The Wizards guard works to change speeds to attempt shots at three levels of the floor. Of his 82 field-goal attempts, 44 are 3s (33 above the break), 14 are midrange, and 21 in the paint (non-restricted area).

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9. Ryan Kalkbrenner, Hornets

Second in the NBA in blocks at 2.4 per game, Kalkbrenner defends the paint for the Hornets like heâ€s on the Nightâ€s Watch. Height helps with blocks, but when you have a true feel for timing in your soul it pops on the film. The big man consistently has shown very good timing on his rotations to protect the paint; what looks like an open lane to the offense can change very quickly. And itâ€s not just the size and the timing; itâ€s also the verticality of his challenges.

When he plays in a drop on defense in pick-and-roll and the offense thinks it has a speed advantage, he works to slide back, contain the drive and put himself in position to contest. If you think you have a pocket pass to your big who is rolling, he works to recover and contest. On offense, he provides rim runs in transition and operates in the dunker spot to profit off a drive.

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10. Derik Queen, Pelicans

There has been a lot of discourse about the Pelicans trading to select Queen in the draft, but with Zion Williamson out we’re getting a glimpse into the talent he can bring on a nightly basis. Itâ€s easy to have a heavy hand when sprinkling the term “hub†for a big in todayâ€s NBA, but there is a reason teams seek them out.

Queenâ€s passing ability certainly fits the bill for a Pelicans offense that needs movement. He sees the floor well and has a knack for getting the ball to the right spot at the right time with precision. Keep an eye on the throw-aheads in transition and the development if he is able to grab and go when he gets a rebound. That same movement and spacing allows Queen to showcase his ability to drive, using smooth footwork with a dose of sly finishing.

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Honorable mention:

• Sion James, Hornets:James cannot and will not stop making winning plays when he is on the court.

• Hugo Gonzalez, Celtics:Gonzalez is a mad man who will give maximum effort and defend anyone heâ€s asked to guard. Sounds fitting next to Joe Mazzulla.

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Cooper Flagg at point guard hasn’t exactly been working. So the Dallas Mavericks are making a change.

Head coach Jason Kidd switched up his lineup for Wednesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Veteran point guard D’Angelo Russell is moving from the bench to the starting lineup. And Klay Thompson is moving to the bench.

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With Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving still sidelined by injury, the Mavericks announced the following starting lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Pelicans, with Flagg at small forward:

Dâ€Angelo Russell
Max Christie
Cooper Flagg
PJ Washington
Daniel Gafford

D’Angelo Russell and Cooper Flagg will start together for the first time Wednesday night.

(Stacy Revere via Getty Images)

The lineup change frees up Flagg from the point guard duties he’s started his career with to slot back into his more natural position in the frontcourt. Thompson, who’s also been struggling to start the season, will move into a sixth-man role, where the Mavericks hope he can break out of his shooting slump and provide a scoring spark off the bench.

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Mavericks need something to change

Kidd made the move after a 2-5 start that had the Mavericks in 14th place out of 15 teams in the Western Conference. The start has doused any excitement in Dallas that Flagg could join forces with Davis and Irving to compete in the West and move on from the disastrous trade of Luka DonÄić to the Los Angeles Lakers.

A 6-9 forward with a versatile skillset, Flagg started the season at point in part because Irving was sidelined by an ACL tear from last season. Flagg is a capable ball-handler and passer, but his natural position that he played primarily at Duke is on the wing.

The decision allowed Kidd to find out if Flagg is capable of playing point as the Mavericks await the return of Irving, who does not have a timeline. At this stage of his career, at least, the position was not a good fit.

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Flagg, who started the season with enormous hype as the No. 1 pick in the draft, has gotten off to a lackluster start to his career. In his first seven games, Flagg’s averaged 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.1 turnovers per game. He’s shot 38.8% from the field and 30.8% from 3.

Starting Flagg at point guard also allowed the Mavericks to keep Thompson in the starting lineup. But Thompson’s gotten off to his own poor start, averaging 8.1 points, 3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 31.8% from the floor and 26.2% on 6 3-point attempts per game.

So the impetus was twofold. And the Mavericks are hoping the lineup change can spark a turnaround from a discouraging start to the season.

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• 

  Tim MacMahonOct 31, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

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  • Joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009
  • Covers the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks
  • Appears regularly on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM

KYRIE IRVING’S FACE beamed with a big smile as he approached Cooper Flagg near the Dallas Mavericks’ bench, a stark contrast to the American Airlines Center scoreboard at that moment.

It was midway through the third quarter of the season opener, and hardly anything had gone as hoped for Flagg at that point of his heavily anticipated NBA debut. He had more turnovers than points as Dallas trailed the San Antonio Spurs by 15 when Flagg stepped back onto the floor after a timeout before stopping to listen as Irving approached him, the veteran clapping animatedly and offering good vibes along with words of encouragement.

“Just keep your head up!” Irving told Flagg.

Irving, like teammate Anthony Davis, understands the glare of the spotlight that comes with being the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. But they began their NBA careers with the Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Pelicans, respectively, two franchises that were in the early stages of a rebuild. Flagg’s situation is a far cry from that norm as he arrived in Dallas only a season removed from the Mavs making an NBA Finals appearance. He joined a veteran-heavy roster that has internal win-now expectations even with Irving still months away from returning from knee surgery.

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“The first thing you tell him is to have fun and enjoy yourself,” Irving told ESPN during the preseason. “The work is just getting started, but it is pretty unique in terms of the situation he’s in. But being a No. 1 pick is still going to come with the pressure, still going to come with a lot of the inner thoughts that you want to impose on the team. You want to let everybody know who you are, and you want to earn everybody’s respect. And that’s what it takes to be in this league. There’s no boys allowed.

“For me, it’s just making sure he doesn’t get overwhelmed or it’s not too much for him.”

The first week of Flagg’s career featured mixed results as coach Jason Kidd tossed him into the deep end, starting the 18-year-old at point guard, a position the rookie had never played.

There have been moments when Flagg’s franchise-changing potential has popped, such as his poster dunk over Toronto’s Sandro Mamukelashvili on a fast break. That was the highlight of Flagg’s first NBA victory, when he finished with 22 points and no turnovers, joining Kobe Bryant as the only players in NBA history with a 20-point, zero-turnover outing before turning 19.

There have also been stretches when Flagg has faded into the background. He was scoreless in the first half of his debut and didn’t record an assist in the game, a blowout loss to the Spurs, when reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle’s pressure defense made initiating the offense difficult. Flagg sat out in crunch time, save for a couple of late defensive possessions, and finished with only two points and no assists again in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder the night after his terrific performance against Toronto.

“He’s 18 years old,” Kidd said. “He’s going to look good; he’s going to make some mistakes. He’s going to learn from winning and losing, but being in this seat early on in your career will only make him better as we go forward.”

The challenges for Flagg aren’t just on the floor. His lone season at Duke, where he was perhaps the most hyped recruit in the prestigious program’s history, prepared Flagg as well as possible for the expectations and demands on a No. 1 pick widely billed as a generational prospect. But he has the added pressure of joining a franchise that is still reeling from the most controversial trade in NBA history as he navigates fame and playoff expectations.

“I mean, it’s a lot mentally,” Flagg said after his first win. “It’s a lot. I’ve been through a lot over the last couple months. It’s been a whirlwind, so just trying to take time to adjust and adapt.

“It doesn’t always go perfect right away. So just figuring it out day by day, game by game, minute by minute how I can help my team in the best ways. I think I’m starting to get more comfortable for sure.”

Anthony Davis is the Dallas Mavericks’ leading scorer, averaging 20.8 points, while No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg is averaging 13.4 points on 41% shooting. The Mavs are 2-3 as Flagg adjusts to playing point guard. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

FLAGG FIGURED THE question would come as he met the Dallas media for the first time a couple of days after the draft. He gave a side-eye glance to his twin brother, Ace, who was seated in the front row, and attempted to suppress a smirk when asked about following in the footsteps of Luka Doncic as the face of the Mavs’ franchise.

“I’m coming in just trying to learn and trying to get better every single day,” Flagg said then. “If I can do that to the best of my ability, I think expectations and pressures that other people will put on me and our team, that will kind of work itself out. So I’m just trying to come in and be the best that I can be and just win at the highest level.”

As focused as Flagg is on basketball, the bizarre chain of events that brought him to Dallas continues to loom over the organization, beginning with general manager Nico Harrison’s stunning decision to trade a homegrown perennial MVP candidate entering his prime to the Los Angeles Lakers in early February.

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The torn ACL that Irving suffered in early March, a major factor in Dallas tumbling out of the playoff picture to get those 1.8% lottery odds that landed Flagg, is healing. The fans’ emotional wounds, stemming from feelings of betrayal, might not any time soon.

The team’s fans have embraced the rookie. His No. 32 jersey is the only one seen more often than Doncic’s No. 77 in home crowds, and fans shout “Flagg!” in unison at the appropriate time during the pregame renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” But the fans haven’t forgiven management. They broke out into “Fire Nico!” chants late in the lopsided losses to the Spurs and lowly Washington Wizards to open the season.

It’s a subject Flagg wisely avoids.

“I’m just locked in on the game,” Flagg said after the loss to the Wizards, claiming he was unaware of any chants from the crowd. “I didn’t even hear those. I’m listening to Coach, listening to the guys on the team, the vets, just trying to figure out as many ways as I can to help the team impact the game in a positive way. I’m trying to tune all that stuff out.”

Flagg slid into Doncic’s former spot in the Mavs’ starting lineup, but nobody reasonably expects the newcomer to replace the superstar’s production right away, if ever.

Doncic led the league in scoring with a franchise-record 33.9 points per game in his last full season in Dallas, when he also averaged 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists. Flagg averaged 13.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists during Dallas’ five-game homestand to start the season. The Mavs have salvaged a 2-3 record despite ranking second to last in the league in offensive efficiency, scoring only 103.5 points per 100 possessions, a number that drops to 95.6 with Flagg on the floor.

“He’s working at his craft to be the best in the world,” Kidd said. “It’s going to take some time.”

Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL in his left knee March 3 and is still working his way back. He has mentored Cooper Flagg, who has taken on Irving’s ballhandling responsibilities. LM Otero/AP Photo

IRVING OFTEN HAS a 6-foot-9 shadow in his post-practice sessions, shooting together and taking turns playing one-on-one against an assistant coach, the rookie mimicking moves the nine-time All-Star makes. Irving is happy to offer support and wisdom, but his absence created a glaring void of ballhandling and playmaking that falls largely on Flagg to fill while the veteran works his way back.

The Mavs’ veterans, especially the few with Hall of Fame resumes, are attempting to minimize the burden Flagg feels.

“Usually with a lot of No. 1 picks, you go and you got to save a franchise,” five-time All-Star Klay Thompson told ESPN. “I just told him, ‘Your rookie year is like a free shot. You don’t need to have any expectations.'”

Davis, the 10-time All-Star big man who was the headliner of the return in the Doncic deal, believes it’s his responsibility to shield the rookie from the burden of carrying the franchise — for now.

“We want him to be confident but don’t worry about the pressure,” Davis told ESPN. “I’ll handle the pressure. J. Kidd will handle the pressure. When Kyrie comes back, he’ll handle the pressure. We want him to go out here and just play basketball. He’ll have pressure three, four or five years from now when we all probably going to be out [of] the league.”

“He’s going to be great, but we want him to develop. We don’t want to rush him or anything. But also he knows he wants to win, and we know we want to win.”

There’s a dose of reality that comes with the date on Flagg’s birth certificate. He won’t turn 19 until Dec. 21, having reclassified in high school to allow him to enter the NBA a year early.

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There has never been an 18-year-old playing a major role on an NBA playoff team.

For all of Bryant’s brilliance, he didn’t play due to a coach’s decision in the first regular-season game of his career, and he averaged 7.6 points on 41.7% shooting with more turnovers than assists as a rookie. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tracy McGrady had middling production, primarily as reserves, for bad teams.

LeBron James put up by far the best numbers of any player so young, averaging 20.9 points on 41.7% shooting, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game during his Rookie of the Year campaign. But the Cavaliers, who were coming off a 17-win season, finished with a 35-47 record.

“We have championship aspirations, but we also know where we are as a team growing and building, not just now but for the future,” Irving said. “So it’s just important, man, that he has a good head on his shoulders, which he does already. He’s very mature for his age, and it’s not too often you get an 18-year-old in your franchise where he’s the youngest and he’s wise beyond his years.

“But also, he’s still 18. So we got to respect that. And he’s still a kid that needs to be developed.”

The Mavs anticipate that there will be fluctuations in Flagg’s statistical production as a rookie. That’s fine as long as the relentless competitiveness that Kidd has referred to as Flagg’s “superpower” is a constant.

Kidd’s favorite play by Flagg so far wasn’t a viral highlight. In fact, it didn’t even show up in the box score. It occurred when Flagg dove on the floor between two Spurs to fight for a loose ball when the Mavs were trailing by 19 late in the third quarter of the opener.

As long as Flagg gives that level of effort, the Mavs will gladly live with his growing pains.

“I think the pressure they put on me is just to be myself,” Flagg said. “Just to be who I know I can be and the person I’ve been my whole life and up to this point. So I don’t feel any pressure from them. They always want me to be great and be who I am.”

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  André SnellingsOct 29, 2025, 02:39 PM ET

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  Dr. André Snellings is a senior writer for men’s and women’s fantasy basketball and sports betting at ESPN. André has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Michigan. He joined ESPN in 2017 after a 16-year career as a neural engineer, during which time he was also a writer and analyst for Rotowire.

One week into the season, VJ Edgecombe (+110) has officially surpassed Cooper Flagg (+115) as the favorite to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, according to ESPN BET.

That is an amazing turnaround from where the season began, with Flagg as the prohibitive favorite and a prop available on ESPN BET of Flagg vs. the field, where the field was getting plus money.

How did we get here? And how likely is this state of events to persist over the season? Let’s take a closer look.

Edgecombe’s sizzling start

Edgecombe is off to an amazing start, averaging 22.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 5.5 APG, 3.0 3PG and 1.5 SPG through his first four games while helping lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a surprising 4-0 start. But more than the numbers, his on-court demeanor and sense-of-the-moment have been amazing for a rookie.

He has taken and made big shots in crunch time; he has made huge defensive plays; he has stepped up to play a whopping 40.3 MPG, including major minutes in overtimes. Just all around an incredible start.

Flagg’s point guard experiment

On the flip side, the Mavericks have opened the season with an experiment: Could Flagg play full-time point guard?

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That was a risk, because it’s not an ideal use of Flagg’s skill set. Flagg is a wing with excellent size and strength, physically more of a 3-4 combo forward than a swingman. He is a good ball handler and passer for his size, and he has a strong all-around game, but he’d be more natural as an off-ball option that creates from the elbow than someone that should be bringing the ball up and initiating the offense.

That’s particularly true because the wings in the NBA tend to be smaller and quicker than Flagg, and can make life difficult for him if he’s playing that role. Flagg has already faced excellent defensive wings like Stephon Castle, Scottie Barnes and the combo of Luguentz Dort and Cason Wallace, and that has contributed to his slow start in the NBA.

How this will play out over the rest of the season?

This question is a bit more complicated.

Looking closer at Edgecombe:We have to expect some regression in his numbers. No one plays more than 40 minutes per game for an entire season in today’s NBA, so his minutes will very likely roll back.

In addition, it is very clear from the first four games that Edgecombe’s production drops when Joel Embiid is being featured. In the two games Embiid has either scored single digits or didn’t play, the rookie out of Baylor has averaged 30.0 PPG. In the two games Embiid has scored at least 20 points, even while only averaging 21.5 minutes, Edgecombe has averaged 14.5 points.

Embiid’s health is always a risky proposition, but if the 76ers’ plan to bring him along slowly and manage his minutes pays dividends, it is likely Edgecombe’s numbers will decrease — even more so than Tyrese Maxey. And none of that even projects what happens if and when Paul George and Jared McCain return, requiring minutes and usage that are currently going to Edgecombe.

Looking closer at Flagg: It feels like Flagg has nowhere to go but up. Yes, the makeup of the Mavericks has played a part in how he’s been deployed. The Mavs have two good centers, Anthony Davis at the four and P.J. Washington at the three. And with Kyrie Irving out and offseason addition D’Angelo Russell playing sparingly off the bench, Flagg has been the guy at point guard.

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But this situation isn’t working for Flagg, and it isn’t working for the Mavericks either. They are 1-3, next to last in the Western Conference, with a -10.0 PPG scoring margin that illustrates how uncompetitive they have been.

With no inside information, I have to feel like coach Jason Kidd will eventually see the writing on the wall and move Flagg off the ball. Maybe that means starting Russell in the short term, knowing that Irving is currently expected back sometime in the new year.

Either way, if/when Flagg moves back to a more natural role I think his production will flourish. The size, skill set and moxie I saw on display in Las Vegas Summer League should translate to some big games in the NBA as well.

Betting and fantasy outlook

Betting: I don’t see a lot of value in betting either Edgecombe (+110) or Flagg (+115) at essentially even money for a future that’s months away.

My approach would be to wait another week or two and see if either player, most likely Edgecombe, moves more firmly into the favorite slot. If, at that time, I could get Flagg at closer to +300 or better, that could be solid value because I do expect his role to change and his production to improve at some point this season. And it could happen at a time when Edgecombe’s production might wane as his team gets healthier.

Edgecombe is definitely playing like the best rookie in the league right now, but it’s a long season and I would time my bets for when the value proposition is more favorable than it is at the moment.

Fantasy:The same analysis suggests that Edgecombe could potentially be a trade-high prospect in the short term. He’s taking the league by storm and putting up some monster numbers in his first few games, so if he’s on your roster you could probably get good value for him now.

On the flip side, Flagg’s trade value is probably about as low as it is going to get, and unless/until his role changes it is unlikely that his value bounces back. But I think that bounce-back will occur, making Flagg a potentially nice candidate to trade for now.

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  Tim MacMahonOct 28, 2025, 01:09 AM ET

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  • Joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009
  • Covers the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks
  • Appears regularly on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM

DALLAS — Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg injured his left shoulder on the opening possession of Monday night’s 101-94 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and spent the vast majority of crunch time watching from the bench due to a coach’s decision.

Flagg finished with only two points on 1-of-9 shooting, two rebounds and no assists in 31 minutes, attributing his lackluster performance to being “flat” in the second game of his first NBA back-to-back.

Flagg, the No. 1 pick who scored 22 points in the previous night’s win over the Toronto Raptors, wore a large wrap with heat on his left shoulder when he was on the bench throughout the game. He received treatment and iced it postgame, and said he was optimistic that he would be available for Wednesday’s home game against the Indiana Pacers.

“We’re going to probably get some scans or whatever, make sure everything’s all clean, but I feel like it’s just a little sore,” said Flagg, who thought he injured his shoulder while boxing out. “Just want to keep an eye on it, ice it, do some rehab and should be good to go.”

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Dallas trailed the defending champions by as many as 22 points but sliced the deficit to one with 54.8 seconds left before the Thunder pulled away. Flagg sat out almost all of crunch time, checking out with 8:14 remaining and subbing back in only for a pair of late defensive possessions.

Mavs coach Jason Kidd credited Flagg for showing he’s a “tough kid” by playing through pain but said the decision to sit the 18-year-old down the stretch was based on giving the Mavs the best chance to win.

“It wasn’t his night tonight,” Kidd said. “We’re a team, and so understand that the group that was out there put us in the position to win the game. He wasn’t on the floor, but he was cheering for his teammates.”

Flagg acknowledged that being on the bench during crunch time was something he had never experienced, but he had no issue with Kidd’s decision.

“The way the game was going, we had a group out there that was doing really well and was on a run, so I see where Coach was at with that,” Flagg said. “And I mean, I was flat. I wasn’t myself. I wasn’t impacting the game at a high level, wasn’t doing the right stuff. So obviously, that’s an easy decision for Coach. He was just out there trying to win the game.”

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Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg doesn’t anticipate his shoulder injury will be a problem going forward.

Speaking to reporters after Monday’s 101-94 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Flagg said his shoulder is “a little sore” and he will have some scans done, but expects to be “good to go.”

Flagg appeared to injure his left shoulder on the first possession of the game while boxing out for a rebound. He was able to stay in and play 31 minutes, but head coach Jason Kidd pulled him with 8:14 remaining when they were trailing by 19.

Dallas cut the deficit to 95-91 with 1:25 remaining and Flagg was subbed back in twice for defensive purposes. He finished the game with just two points on 1-of-9 shooting, two rebounds, two steals and no assists.

On the heels of a disastrous three-month stretch at the end of last season that started with trading Luka DonÄić to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, the Mavs got the ultimate bail out in the lottery when they won the No. 1 pick in a year with a superstar prospect at the top of the class.

Flagg will be counted on to be the new face of the franchise, but the early returns from his rookie season show there’s a lot of room for growth with him and the team around him.

Monday’s loss dropped the Mavericks to 1-3. They rank last in the NBA in offense by rating and points per game. Things will improve as the season goes on, especially when they get Kyrie Irving back from a torn ACL.

Ultimately, though, the most important thing for Dallas this season is Flagg’s development. He has NBA-ready tools despite being just 18 years old, but there’s going to be a transition period before he is completely able to dominate at this level.

Losing any reps early in his career is a setback for Flagg, but the Mavs also have to be careful to ensure they aren’t risking him doing any long-term damage to his body.

The Mavericks are off on Tuesday before hosting the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

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