Cooper Flagg’s NBA Journey Begins: From Maine to Dallas, and Soon Back to Boston
The wait is almost over. On October 22nd, Cooper Flagg—the pride of Maine, the former Duke phenom, and now the face of the Dallas Mavericks’ new era will step onto an NBA court for the very first time. His debut comes in San Antonio, where he’ll meet Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in a matchup already dripping with intrigue.
For Flagg, this is more than just a first game. It’s a baptism by fire.
A Challenging Beginning
NBA debuts rarely come on easy terms, and Flagg’s will be no exception. Facing Wembanyama, a player already drawing comparisons to the greatest big men in history, will test every ounce of the rookie’s toughness and competitive fire.
But there’s another wrinkle: with Kyrie Irving still recovering from ACL surgery, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd has already hinted at putting Flagg in an uncomfortable spot. The plan? Have the 6-foot-9 forward initiate offense and run some possessions as the point guard.
“It’s about challenging him early,” Kidd explained in a recent interview. “He’s too talented to ease in slowly. We want him to be uncomfortable. That’s how great players grow.”
Uncomfortable, maybe but for Flagg, it’s the kind of challenge he’s always embraced.
A Blue Devil Reunion—Sort Of
Just days after his debut, Flagg will turn on the TV and see familiar faces. On October 26th, Duke basketball travels to Knoxville to face Tennessee, and many of Flagg’s old teammates will take the floor. It’s a strange timeline: while they continue the college journey, Flagg has already vaulted into the highest level of the sport.
It’s a reminder of just how quickly his life has changed. In one year, he’s gone from a teenager dominating high school gyms in Maine to playing under the brightest lights in basketball.
Marking the Calendar: Boston Awaits
Of course, there are 82 games in an NBA season, and Flagg will travel the country like every other rookie before him. But some dates matter more than others and none loom larger than February 3rd and March 6th.
That’s when Flagg and the Mavericks face the Boston Celtics first in Dallas, then at TD Garden.
For Flagg, it’s personal.
Raised in Newport, Maine, Flagg grew up three hours north of Boston, in a region where Celtics green runs as deep as the Atlantic. He idolized Larry Bird. He studied the way Boston teams competed, fought, and represented New England pride. And he’s spoken often about how much the Celtics meant to his basketball upbringing.
Walking into TD Garden for the first time as a professional this time not as a fan, but as the opponent will be a surreal and emotional moment.
The Pride of New England
Some might hesitate to crown him the greatest player ever to come out of New England Calvin Murphy or Patrick Ewing might stake claims of their own but few players have captured the region’s love the way Flagg already has.
Mainers, in particular, see him not just as a star athlete, but as a symbol of what’s possible. Newport is a town of just over 3,000 people, and yet it’s about to be represented in the NBA spotlight. Fans are already planning road trips, with expectations that when Dallas comes to Boston, thousands of Maine residents will make the three-hour drive south to cheer their hometown hero.
“Every kid in Maine grew up dreaming about Boston,” said one local high school coach. “Now one of our own is playing against them. That’s history.”
A Rookie With a Heavy Load
Flagg’s rookie season won’t be easy. The Mavericks are in transition Luka Dončić is gone, Irving is recovering, and Dallas is searching for a new identity. That means Flagg isn’t walking into a comfortable supporting role. He’s being asked, almost immediately, to be a central piece of the future.
And yet, if history has shown anything, it’s that Flagg thrives under pressure. He didn’t shy away at Duke. He didn’t shy away against international competition. And he certainly won’t shy away from carrying the expectations of an entire fan base or an entire region.
The Beginning of Something Bigger
In many ways, this season will be remembered less for wins and losses and more for the beginning of a story. Flagg isn’t just debuting in the NBA; he’s beginning what could be a decade-long journey toward becoming one of the most recognizable faces in the game.
The kid from Newport, Maine, is about to test himself against the world. He’s about to line up across from Wembanyama, battle in packed NBA arenas, and eventually step onto the TD Garden floor in front of thousands of Celtics fans who once dreamed of him in green.
It will be uncomfortable. It will be challenging. It will be emotional.
But for Cooper Flagg, that’s exactly the point.
✅ Bottom Line: On October 22nd, a new chapter begins for Flagg, for Dallas, and for every fan in New England who watched his rise. The NBA journey is here, and all eyes are on the kid from Maine.
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