Cooper Flagg’s Debut: Anticipation and Learning in the NBA
In his highly anticipated NBA debut, Cooper Flagg, the first draft pick, experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. The night began with a promising play, but culminated in a bittersweet result for the young player and the Dallas Mavericks. In the first offensive possession of his career, Flagg led the transition, assisting Anthony Davis for a spectacular play that thrilled the fans. However, Flagg’s dunk attempt was unsuccessful, setting the tone for a night of ups and downs. Flagg finished the game with 10 points, the result of 4 out of 13 field goals. Playing as a point guard, a new position for him, he committed three turnovers without registering assists. “It wasn’t great,” admitted Flagg when evaluating his performance. “Obviously, I didn’t play incredibly well, but we have to leave this behind and focus on Friday.” The match was dominated by Victor Wembanyama, of the San Antonio Spurs, who scored 40 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Stephon Castle, also of the Spurs, added 22 points and was Flagg’s main defender.Dylan Harper, the second draft pick, had a more impressive debut with 15 points off the bench. Flagg, for his part, didn’t score until the second quarter.“He didn’t throw well, but he seemed much more composed than I thought,” Castle commented on Flagg. “I had nerves in my first game. He made good reads. He didn’t seem very flustered, so I think he’ll have a great year.”
Stephon Castle
Despite the difficulties, Flagg achieved 10 rebounds in his 32 minutes, becoming the fifth Dallas player to achieve a double-double in his debut. Coach Jason Kidd was not discouraged by the performance of the 18-year-old.“It’s his first game. He’s a rookie,” said Davis, who led the Mavs with 22 points. “I don’t know if he’s a social media guy, but everyone was talking about his matchup with Wemby. I think it affected him a little bit, but it’s first-game jitters. He’ll be fine.”
Anthony Davis
According to statistics, the Mavs only scored eight points in the 19 possessions in which Flagg brought up the ball. The team plans to use a versatile lineup, with P.J. Washington and Davis sharing the playmaking responsibility with the rookie. “We got a little stuck,” Flagg acknowledged. “It’s early, so we have to keep working on it, figure it out, and improve our flow.” Flagg attempted few shots in the first half, but showed greater aggressiveness in the third quarter, where he scored 4 of 11 shots. Kidd praised his collective play and his ability to make smart decisions. Flagg finished with the worst plus-minus of the game, with -29. “I’m excited to move forward,” said Flagg. “Obviously, the first loss hurts like this, but I’m trying to look towards the next game, turn the page, and get ready. We know we have to improve a lot, so I’ll maintain positivity and be ready for the next one.”“I think he played well. The statistics won’t reflect it, but nobody in this room is in his place. As a rookie, he did well and will learn from this game. We all will and we’ll be better next time,” Kidd declared.
Jason Kidd
