Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg said his biggest focus early in training camp is adjusting to the NBA’s pace and spacing.
Speaking with Marc Stein on the DLLS Mavs podcast from Vancouver, the No. 1 overall pick described the step up from college basketball. “Obviously it’s a lot of differences in the spacing, the terminology, the defense,” Flagg said. “So just kind of cleaning up on a bunch of things… getting our set stuff down, our half court stuff down, our rotations, the way we want to guard, and trying to just establish that identity.”
Flagg, who starred at Duke last season, said the transition has been both demanding and exciting. “I think just getting sped up offensively,” he said. “I got to be comfortable, be confident. Sometimes I get rushed, so I just have to trust the spacing, trust the coaches, and trust all the work I put in.”
Three full-speed practices into camp, Flagg said he’s already learning to balance his instincts with the Mavericks’ system. “I was able to just impact the game,” he said. “Fitting in with different lineups, playing alongside AD, Klay, a bunch of different guys, and just being able to impact the ball, defensively and offensively.”
When asked how often he had the ball in scrimmages, Flagg said the Mavericks are emphasizing shared responsibilities. “We don’t have a set person we want to bring it up all the time,” he explained. “It’s just moving the ball up the court with a fast pace and then playing through our bigs at the elbows, getting into different split actions, pick-and-rolls. It’s just sharing the load and letting everybody contribute.”
Flagg said veteran teammates, including Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and Dereck Lively II, have been instrumental in helping him adapt. Lively, fellow Duke Blue Devil, reminded him that being the No. 1 pick means “you’re going to have a target on your back.”
Despite the expectations, Flagg said he’s focused on team success first. “I’m excited to come in and try and contribute in whatever ways I can,” he said. “Hopefully just impact winning at a high level.”
The 18-year-old forward, who averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists at Duke, said he’s enjoying life in Dallas. “It’s a beautiful city,” he said. “I’ve been able to explore it a little bit, find some good food spots… my family’s been down a little bit, so I’m just trying to settle in.”
When asked about Rookie of the Year expectations, Flagg said his focus remains on the bigger picture. “Obviously it’s something I really want to strive for,” he said. “But if we have team success, that other stuff will handle itself.”
