Cooper Flagg’s First NBA Practice
VANCOUVER — Cooper Flagg, with beads of sweat dripping from his dark brown hair, gave himself a pep talk shortly after his first official NBA practice.
“Day one in the books!” he said.
Dereck Lively II, once in Flagg’s shoes as the former youngest member of the Dallas Mavericks, yelled from the other side of the gymnasium and encouraged the rookie forward on completing his first day of training camp: “Yeah, Coop!”
Shortly after, Flagg spoke to a group of reporters about his impressions of Tuesday’s practice, held inside West Gym on the campus of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada.
Introduction to the Mavericks
Competition was one of the focal points of the Mavericks’ first practice of the season and Flagg was at the center of it all.
Flagg’s First Practice
“I thought the intensity was great,” Flagg said. “I thought we were competing right from the jump in different shell drills and defensive drills. I thought we had a lot of guys just locked in and competing at a high level.”
Playing against NBA competition isn’t new to Flagg. He faced teammate Anthony Davis and several other future Hall of Famers as a member of the U.S. Select Team as a 17-year-old. He got a sneak peek of the professional game during his two-game stint at the Las Vegas Summer League.
Flagg’s Impressions of the Mavericks’ Defense
Flagg says the Mavericks, who are built on their new defensive philosophy, could be one of the best teams in the NBA on that end of the floor.
“Just utilizing our size,” Flagg said. “Using that to our advantage. We have a lot of tall, lanky position players. Covering a lot of ground with our length.”
Feedback from Veteran Players
Flagg received credit from veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson for being involved in every drill, a testament to the work ethic he’s built a reputation for since he was a preteen.
“Cooper did great,” Thompson said. “I’m most impressed he did not sit out one drill. I don’t care how many shots he misses, how many mistakes he makes. The fact that he’s in there and he’s competing every single drill, that’s what impresses me.”
“He’s a competitor,” Jason Kidd said. “He made a lot of the right plays. Handling the ball, playing without the ball at 18 years old. He understands how to play the game at a high level and I thought his energy was great.”
Learning the Mavericks’ System
The first practice was an opportunity to implement some core principles the Mavericks are emphasizing this season. Kidd said having fun, building championship habits, communication and relationship building were focal points in Tuesday’s session.
Since his junior season at Nokomis High School, Flagg has learned four variations of terminology in offensive and defensive schemes across different levels of basketball: High school, prep school (Montverde), college and now the NBA.
“It’s different,” Flagg said, “But it’s all the same thing at the end of the day. You just gotta get accustomed to saying different things. Sometimes I mess up and use old terminology I used at Duke and stuff, but at the end of the day, if you say something, it’s better than saying nothing. Just letting your teammates know where you are.”
Upcoming Preseason Game
That level of communication should be beneficial by the time Flagg steps on an actual NBA court. His unofficial debut in a Mavericks jersey will be in Monday’s preseason opener in Fort Worth against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I’m ready. I’m excited,” Flagg said. “I’m just trying to take it one step at a time. Enjoying every process, every step of the way. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I’m really excited.”
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Conclusion
Cooper Flagg’s first NBA practice was a success, with the rookie forward impressing his coaches and teammates with his work ethic and competitiveness. As the Mavericks prepare for their preseason opener, Flagg is excited to take the court and show what he can do. With his strong defense and improving communication skills, Flagg is ready to make a big impact in the NBA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Cooper Flagg?
A: Cooper Flagg is a rookie forward for the Dallas Mavericks. He is 18 years old and was drafted by the Mavericks in the first round of the NBA draft.
Q: What was Flagg’s impression of his first NBA practice?
A: Flagg thought the intensity of the practice was great and that the team was competing at a high level. He also appreciated the opportunity to learn the Mavericks’ system and terminology.
Q: What did Klay Thompson say about Flagg’s performance?
A: Thompson said that Flagg did great and that he was most impressed by the fact that Flagg did not sit out one drill. He also praised Flagg’s competitiveness and work ethic.
Q: What is Flagg’s role in the Mavericks’ defense?
A: Flagg says that the Mavericks are built on their new defensive philosophy, which utilizes their size and length to their advantage. He believes that the team could be one of the best in the NBA on defense.
Q: When is Flagg’s unofficial debut in a Mavericks jersey?
A: Flagg’s unofficial debut will be in Monday’s preseason opener in Fort Worth against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
