On October 22nd, the Dallas Mavericks will host the San Antonio Spurs to kick off their season. The biggest storyline is Victor Wembanyama’s return to action after blood clots sidelined him last season. A close second? Cooper Flagg’s NBA debut.
Picked first overall out of Duke, Flagg is right up there with Wembanyama, Zion Williamson, and LeBron James as the most hyped prospect in recent memory. In the preseason, he dazzled on both ends of the floor, looking comfortable even leading the offense at times.
Flagg will be surrounded by proven NBA talent. That should help mask any of the inevitable mistakes he will make, although the expectations are high right away.
GettySALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – OCTOBER 13: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks during the second half of the preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks on October 13, 2025 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Cooper Flagg Is Under Pressure to Succeed
Fans are only three years two years removed from Wembanyama’s debut, which also came against the Mavericks. The French center is a better prospect than Flagg could ever hope to be, although that’s not a discount of the rookie.
Flagg is an elite defensive talent with ball-handling, shooting, and driving capabilities on the other end of the floor. Unlike Wembanyama, he is not expected to be the best player on the roster right away, although he is expected to be amazing from the jump.
The New York Post asked its sportswriters to describe Flagg with one word each, and praise was heaped onto the rookie before he even makes his debut.
“Justified.”
“Consistent.”
“Spectacular.”
After the Mavericks made the shocking choice to trade Luka Doncic, they were rattled by injuries and missed the playoffs. Flagg is expected to get Dallas back to the top of the NBA sooner rather than later.
Dallas Mavericks Face Pressure But Flagg Does Not
Klay Thompson signed with the Mavericks, thinking that they had a better chance of winning the title than the Golden State Warriors. Anthony Davis was brought in for Doncic, expected to open an immediate title window.
Even Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington need to prove that they can thrive without Doncic.
The only player on the roster under virtually no pressure to answer for the infamous trade is Flagg. He’s ready to make a mark on Dallas, totally removed from the Slovenian superstar.
“I feel like the opportunity that I was given and put into this year took a lot of that pressure off of me,” he explained on October 21st. “Just having a situation to be around AD, Kyrie, Klay, and just having a really good team in general, like we’re a really deep team. So I think that kind of takes a lot of that pressure off of me to just be myself and not worry about expectations to be like anybody else.”
While Flagg doesn’t feel the pressure yet, the Mavericks will be gunning for a playoff spot this season, and anything short of that will be considered a failure.
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