Flagg Adjusts to Losing in NBA
So far in his brief NBA career, Cooper Flagg has already felt the sting of defeat multiple times. The top overall draft pick isn’t used to losing; it’s a new experience for him as he learns the ins and outs of the league.
“Honestly, I haven’t had this many losses since… well, it’s been a while,” Flagg shared during a recent interview. “It’s definitely different. I just need to play more games and, you know, get accustomed to it. No one’s thrilled about the situation. We’re all trying to remain calm, reminding ourselves that it’s early in the season and there are many games to go.”
He reflected on his time at Duke, where he only faced defeat four times. Flagg started his high school journey at Nokomis Regional High School in Maine before moving to Montverde Academy in Florida, where he led the team to a national title and earned the title of Naismith National High School Player of the Year.
After a somewhat contentious lottery process, the Mavericks selected Flagg first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. However, the current season isn’t going quite as planned; Dallas has stumbled out of the gate with a 2-6 record, including a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. As of now, they’re sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference.
Compounding the situation, the Mavericks are missing two key veteran players. Kyrie Irving is likely out for the season, and Anthony Davis is already sidelined.
Despite these setbacks, the team is still struggling to close out tight games. This was evident against the Pelicans, where Flagg, despite a solid performance with 20 points and nine rebounds in 35 minutes, missed an important shot that could have evened the game.
“In the second half, I was in a good position. I got a shot off, but unfortunately, it just didn’t go in,” he mentioned.
Still, Flagg’s start to his NBA career has been promising, with averages of 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He’s eager to shift the momentum and contribute more to the Mavericks’ successes.
“Competing at this level is exciting,” he said. “It’s great to face strong opponents, and I know there’s a lot I can learn from these experiences. With all the film available, I plan to review what I can improve on.”
