DALLAS — On the primary offensive possession of his NBA profession, Cooper Flagg pushed the ball down the ground in transition, gave it as much as Anthony Davis and soared into the air to catch the lob move the 10-time All-Star tossed again to him, a lot to the delight of the sellout crowd on the American Airways Heart.
However Flagg could not full the spotlight by throwing down the dunk. Because the ball rattled out of the rim, he crashed into the baseline, touchdown on his bottom.
It was a sequence that foreshadowed the No. 1 choose’s NBA debut — a number of anticipation, however a disappointing consequence for Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks.
Flagg went scoreless within the first half and completed with 10 factors on 4-of-13 capturing because the San Antonio Spurs rolled to a 125-92 rout Wednesday night time. The 6-foot-9 Flagg began at level guard, a place he had by no means performed till becoming a member of the Mavs, and dedicated three turnovers with out recording an help.
“Not nice,” Flagg stated when requested to evaluate his efficiency. “Clearly, did not play extremely properly, however we have to maneuver previous it, flip our focus and begin trying towards Friday [against the Washington Wizards].”
The sport was dominated by Spurs middle Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 choose within the 2023 draft, who had 40 factors, 15 rebounds and three blocks. Spurs guard Stephon Citadel, the Rookie of the Yr final season, added 22 factors, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and a pair of steals whereas pestering Flagg as his major defender.
“He did not shoot the ball properly, however he appeared much more poised than I assumed he can be,” Citadel stated of Flagg. “I imply, my first sport I used to be on the market nervous. He made some good reads. He did not appear too rattled, so I feel he’ll have a terrific 12 months.”
San Antonio guard Dylan Harper, the No. 2 choose behind Flagg, had the extra spectacular debut. He scored 15 factors on 7-of-14 capturing in 23 minutes off the bench.
Flagg, alternatively, did not rating till making a midrange jumper on the opening possession of the second half.
“Recreation one. I imply, he is nonetheless a rookie,” stated Davis, who had a team-high 22 factors on 7-of-22 capturing because the Mavs’ offense sputtered. “You are coming in and preseason was clearly good, however when that sport one comes round [in a] packed stadium, nationwide TV sport … I am unsure if he is a social media man or not, however you noticed it — all the things was No. 1 choose Cooper Flagg and Wemby match up and all these things. So that you begin you listening to it, and I am unsure if it obtained to him, but it surely’s first-game jitters when it is time for the actual factor. So he’ll be high-quality.”
Flagg did handle to change into the fifth Dallas participant to document a double-double in his NBA debut, grabbing 10 rebounds in his 32 minutes. That record consists of his coach, Jason Kidd, who did not think about the 18-year-old’s debut to be discouraging.
“I assumed he performed properly. Now, the stat line is just not going to say that, however nobody on this room is sitting in his footwear. As a rookie, he did high-quality and he will study from this sport. All of us will, and we’ll be higher subsequent time we take the ground,” Kidd stated.
In accordance with ESPN Analysis, the Mavs scored solely eight factors on the 19 possessions that Flagg introduced the ball up the ground. He’s listed as the purpose guard in a supersized lineup through which 6-foot-6 Klay Thompson is the shortest participant, however the Mavs intend to have forwards P.J. Washington and Davis share the playmaking tasks with the rookie in a system designed round participant and ball motion.
“We simply obtained a bit of stagnant,” Flagg stated. “It is early, so we obtained to maintain engaged on that, determine it out, get our circulate a bit of bit higher.”
Flagg tried solely two photographs from the ground within the first half. He got here out of halftime decided to be extra aggressive, going 4-of-11 from the ground within the third quarter, when the Spurs outscored the Mavs by a 33-21 margin.
“I assumed Cooper performed inside himself,” Kidd stated. “He took what the protection gave him. He is making performs. He is diving on the ground. He is one which’s not going to exit right here and simply shoot each time he touches it. He tries to play the sport the proper method, and I assumed he did that within the first half. I assumed he was comfy and got here on the market within the third, began seeking to be aggressive to take some photographs that he knocked down.”
The Mavs have been outscored by 29 factors with Flagg on the ground, the worst plus-minus within the sport.
“I am excited to maintain going,” Flagg stated. “Clearly it hurts, the primary loss being like that, however I am simply attempting to sit up for the following one, flip the web page and prepare. We all know we obtained to be so much higher than that, so simply staying constructive and staying prepared and simply being locked in on the following one.”