Cooper Flagg was thrust into an environment that was boiling over in anger following the Luka Doncic trade. The home crowd expressed its displeasure by flooding American Airlines Center with “fire Nico” chants. He was forced to answer questions about the hostility, all the while trying to find his footing as a de facto point guard. When the Dallas Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison, the rookie forward still faced other challenges. He has been tasked with leading the franchise at just 19 years of age, as Anthony Davis endures another lengthy recovery. And yet, Flagg continues to dazzle in his first NBA season.
Despite weathering some growing pains, specifically from 3-point range, the No. 1 overall pick is displaying eye-opening poise. He did so again in Saturday night's game against the Houston Rockets. Squaring off with future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant in the third quarter, Flagg displayed excellent body control and footwork before sinking a fadeaway. The teenager is not starstruck. He believes is his game, and so do his teammates.
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Cooper Flagg spins and scores OVER Kevin Durant 😤
pic.twitter.com/aVV7if97R0
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 1, 2026