Every rookie feels the pressure before their NBA debut. But no one to the extent of the No. 1 overall pick.
The same was the case for Cooper Flagg , who faced the San Antonio Spurs , led by fellow top pick Victor Wembanyama , in his first NBA game.
Flagg, long viewed as a generational prospect, was stepping into the league against Wembanyama, who carried the same label two years prior. The moment felt even bigger given that the Dallas Mavericks were searching for their new savior following the Luka Doncic trade.
"Going up against Wemby, I had never seen somebody like that. So like I was definitely a little nervous," he told NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki in a special feature for NBA on Prime.
Flagg had 10 points and 10 rebounds in his debut performance. Still, the night was all about Wembanyama, who posted a monstrous 40 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Spurs to a 125-92 victory.
The experience gap between the two exposed just how steep the learning curve can be for a rookie immediately thrust into the spotlight on opening night.
Flagg began to justify his hype with stronger performances in the games that followed, but his emerging play didn't translate to team success as the Mavericks continued to struggle, tallying only six wins in their first 20 games.
An injury to big man Anthony Davis didn't help, pushing head coach Jason Kidd to experiment and put Flagg at point guard. It was a head-scratching move for everyone, including the then-18-year-old.
"It was kind of crazy. I mean, I definitely doubted a little bit. I wasn't as confident going at point guard, " said Flagg. "You know, J-Kidd wanted to stick me out there and kind of throw me into the fire. And now I'm kind of reaping some of those benefits.
Following his early-season adjustment period, Flagg has blossomed into the team's main scoring option. He is currently averaging 20.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists on the season, and he even set the most points by a teenager in a game after scoring 49 points against the Charlotte Hornets .
While the Mavericks still have work to do before being considered contenders in a loaded Western Conference, fans have already seen what Flagg is capable of. As the season progresses, he no longer looks like a rookie feeling things out, but a player who enjoys being on the court and competing at the highest level.
"I'm just so comfortable on the court. It's always kind of been like a safe space for me and somewhere where I can be myself, being confident and knowing what I want to get to," he said.
Even if the wins have not been coming this season — Dallas is currently 19-33 — Flagg's progression has at least allowed the organization and its fans to temporarily forget the trauma of Doncic's departure and to be hopeful about what the future holds.
And with their recent Davis-to-Washington-Wizards trade, it's clear that Flagg now holds the keys to the franchise."
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
