Cooper Flagg made an impressive and composed preseason debut for the Dallas Mavericks, earning strong praise from head coach Jason Kidd after helping lead the team to a 106–89 win over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
Although Oklahoma City rested most of its regular starters, Dallas fielded a strong lineup that included Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, D’Angelo Russell, Derrick Lively II, and the No. 1 overall pick from the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg.
Flagg logged 14 minutes, contributing 10 points, six rebounds, and a block while shooting efficiently — hitting two of his three attempts from beyond the arc and 50% overall from the field. His first basket came in the second quarter, a tough, contested jumper that set the tone for a confident all-around showing.
Coach Kidd couldn’t hide his admiration after the game, telling The Dallas Morning News’ Mike Curtis:
“He was great. Cooper did an incredible job for us. He’s been showing this since training camp in Vancouver. You saw the defense, the playmaking, and the scoring. He was really, really good tonight.”
The Mavericks dominated early, building a nine-point lead in the opening quarter and stretching it to 26 by halftime. Oklahoma City fought back in the second half, trimming the gap to six in the fourth quarter, but Dallas’ depth proved too much.
PJ Washington, Jaden Hardy, and Max Christie added 14, 12, and 12 points respectively, while the starters sat out the second half. The Mavericks now look ahead to their next preseason matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.
For Dallas fans, the biggest takeaway was how seamlessly Flagg fit alongside the veterans — poised, confident, and already showing flashes of why he was the top pick in this year’s draft.
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