A highly anticipated matchup in the Northeast featured young standout Cooper Flagg sharing the floor with Celtics star Jayson Tatum, whose season debut ultimately drew most of the attention.
The Dallas Mavericks forward welcomed the moment, saying it was meaningful to compete against a player he has admired for years.
“It’s incredible,” he told Christian Clark of The Athletic. “There are so many levels to it. (Tatum) is someone I idolized growing up.
“Watched him go through levels and ranks. Watched him at Duke. Kind of followed in his footsteps. … It’s really special just for me to have this experience tonight.”
Flagg played through soreness in his left foot and still contributed 16 points. After the game, Tatum offered words of encouragement that resonated with the young forward.
“He just told me to keep going,” Flagg said. “He’s been a mentor for me through my journey from Duke to now. Someone I’ve been able to talk to and get advice from.
“I told him the same. I told him it’s incredible what he’s able to do and how quickly he was able to come back.”
Cooper Flagg was thrilled to be part of Jayson Tatum's return Friday night, plus more on the Mavericks. https://t.co/R2l74Lp4Zm
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 7, 2026
