Cooper Flagg opens up on rookie season with Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg entered the 2025-26 NBA season as the clear favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award after being the top overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks. Due to a few setbacks because of injuries and the play of former teammate and roommate Kon Knueppel with the Charlotte Hornets, that prophecy might go unfilled for Flagg.

Still, it’s not going to stop him from being the player he wants to be in the future if he doesn’t win the award.

“Obviously, I’d be disappointed,” Flagg said. “It’s something I think all rookies strive for. That’s an award they want to get. I would definitely be disappointed. But at the end of the day, I think I went out there and showed what I’m capable of.”

Flagg’s rookie season was full of record-setting marks, becoming only the second player ever to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals as a rookie, joining Michael Jordan. In 70 games, the 2025 Wooden Award winner averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the floor.

He’s won the praise of his teammates, including future NBA Hall of Famer Klay Thompson.

“Coop’s been amazing,” Thompson said. “There hasn’t been many teenagers – maybe none – to do what he’s done. So you got to remind yourself he is only 19.

“The future’s so bright for him. The thing I’m most impressed with at such a young age is he’s able to get any shot he wants. So as the years progress, he’s just going to get more efficient and Mavericks’ fans should be elated they have such a talent to build around for a decade-plus.”

This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Cooper Flagg opens up on rookie season with Dallas Mavericks