Cooper Flagg had a pretty unusual bench snack Sunday night, and he had a simple explanation for it.
During the Dallas Mavericks’ 130-93 win over the Brooklyn Nets, the 19-year-old was seen eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while he was off the floor. Flagg said the moment fit into a bigger plan as he tries to keep his body ready for the grind of the NBA season.
“Listen, I thought about this,” said Flagg, who weighs 205 pounds. “I want to give a shout out to our strength staff.
Our medical staff, they’re the best in the business, and I’m trying to put on some weight, keep gaining muscle. So those requirements I got to meet, and I’m just trying to stay ahead of it.”
Flagg also said the sandwich was about getting ready for what comes next.
“We got another game (Monday),” he noted, “so just trying to get my calories and stay ahead of it, and be ready for another one ...”
He even had a preference list for the snack: grape jelly and smooth peanut butter.
“I can’t do the crunchy,” Flagg explained with a grin.
The scene added a little humor to a game in which Flagg again filled up the box score for Dallas. The Duke standout, who was the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after bursting onto the scene a year ago, led the Mavericks in total points, rebounds, assists and steals last season. He is doing much the same thing this year, while also growing physically; he’s now listed at 6-foot-9.
Flagg played 28 minutes in the win and was done for the night with 8:28 left in the fourth quarter. Dallas, now 6-4, led wire-to-wire against the 2-8 Nets and finished the job comfortably.
First-year coach Dusty May said he’d happily take more nights like that.
“I’d love to do this every night if possible,” May said of closing out games early. “No, obviously, to not have to go to the wire, it’s less taxing mentally and physically ... So hopefully they get a good night’s rest.”
And maybe a PB&J, too.
In Other News...
Cooper Flaggs Breakout Has Mavericks Fans Eyeing A Bigger Test
The Mavericks took control early against the Nets and never really let the game drift, with Cooper Flagg doing the heavy lifting in a performance that gave Dallas plenty to feel good about. Flagg kept the offense organized and aggressive, and the win came with a smoother look than the team has often had when trying to settle into its rotation.
Brooklyn never found much rhythm, especially after Noah Clowney ran into foul trouble and was out of the game in under eight minutes. Dallas also eased Max Christie back in after his injury return, a reminder that the Mavericks are still sorting out their pieces even as the results start to tilt their way. The bigger question now is how Flagg's growing role translates when the opposition is a little less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Backcourt Problem Just Got Harder To Ignore
The Mavericks backcourt depth is getting tested in a way that makes every absence behind Kyrie Irving feel a little heavier. With backup point guard Sergio De Larrea out because of a right knee sprain, Dallas has had to lean more on its current reserve guards, and Walter Clayton Jr. has helped steady the rotation while the team tries to keep the position from becoming a nightly problem.
De Larrea has already missed six straight games, and the delay in his return only adds to the uncertainty around a group that was already thin. For a team trying to manage its guard minutes carefully, the longer this lingers the more the Mavericks have to rely on patchwork solutions, at least until there is clearer news on when he can get back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Guard Shakeup Is Creating An Early Rotation Battle
The Mavericks are still sorting out their backcourt mix after Max Christies recent shooting slump and the hip issue that has cut into his availability. In the meantime, Caleb Martin has slid into the starting shooting guard spot and given Dallas a steadier look on the wing, bringing defense and efficient shooting from deep while the coaching staff keeps testing different combinations early in the season.
Walter Clayton Jr. has also entered the conversation as a useful ball-moving option, giving the Mavericks another guard to consider as they evaluate roles and lineups. With Dusty May continuing to experiment, this has become more than a temporary patch job, it is an early rotation battle that could shape how the backcourt settles once the team gets deeper into the schedule. [Read more 🡒]