Cooper Flagg Shines Bright in Statement Game vs. Nuggets, Shows Why He Was No. 1 Pick
If there was any lingering doubt about why the Dallas Mavericks used the No. 1 overall pick on Cooper Flagg, he erased it Tuesday night with a performance that felt like a coming-out party on the NBA’s biggest regular-season stage.
Facing off against Nikola Jokic and the defending champion Denver Nuggets, Flagg didn’t just hold his own-he took over. The 19-year-old rookie poured in 33 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out nine assists in 40 minutes of action. He shot an ultra-efficient 14-of-21 from the field, knocked down four of his six three-point attempts, and didn’t miss from the free-throw line.
This wasn’t just a big night-it was a big night against one of the league’s most disciplined and physically imposing teams. And it ended with a 131-130 win for Dallas, powered by Flagg’s poise and shot-making down the stretch.
Even Jokic, a two-time MVP and one of the savviest players in the league, couldn’t help but tip his cap.
“He was definitely a hot hand out there,” Jokic said postgame. “But just, I’m going to say the poise that he played with-he doesn’t feel like he’s so young out there.
He seems like he played meaningful games and he was winning before. That’s my opinion.
He looked really mature out there.”
That word-poise-kept coming up. Because while Flagg’s stat line was electric, it was the way he got those numbers that turned heads. Late-clock threes, tough mid-range fadeaways, precision passes out of double teams-he made it all look like he’d been doing this for years.
And in a way, maybe he has. Flagg’s lone season at Duke was a showcase of polish beyond his years, where he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
But this is the NBA. Doing it at this level, against a team like Denver, is a different beast.
Still, Flagg looked like he belonged from the opening tip-and like he might be here to take over sooner rather than later.
He’s currently averaging 19.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game for the Mavericks, and if he keeps this pace, the Rookie of the Year race may be over before the All-Star break. But Flagg isn’t getting caught up in the hype.
“Just having fun,” he said after the win. “I think I’m at my best when I’m just playing free and having fun.
Just being confident. Trust the work, trust the reps.”
That mindset is part of what makes him so dangerous. He’s not forcing the issue. He’s playing within the flow, letting the game come to him-and still managing to dominate.
Denver head coach David Adelman gave Flagg his due, especially for the way he responded to tight defense in crunch time.
“It was the tough shots he made,” Adelman said. “Some of the 3s late in the clock.
He got to his spots. I thought Bruce [Brown] really fought him the second half and he still made some really tough shots in key moments.
He’s very impressive, man. … Sometimes it doesn’t matter when a really good player can make shots over the top, and that’s what he did.”
That’s the kind of praise usually reserved for established stars-not rookies just a few months into their NBA careers.
Flagg’s blend of size, feel, and skill is rare. But it’s his maturity, his calm under pressure, and his ability to rise to the moment that’s truly setting him apart.
Nights like this don’t just pad a stat sheet-they send a message. And the message is clear: Cooper Flagg isn’t just the future of the Mavericks.
He might be one of the future faces of the league.
Dallas fans have plenty to be excited about. And if you’re a Duke fan, you’re probably already feeling a little proud watching your guy take flight on the NBA stage.
This is just the beginning-but what a start it’s been.