While the Dallas Mavericks suffered a 120-116 preseason loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, Cooper Flagg provided plenty of reasons for optimism moving forward.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft showcased his all-around impact by finishing with 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals in 24 minutes on the floor.
Flagg shot 4-of-8 from the field and connected on one of his two three-point attempts.
Fans praised his performance.
Anthony Davis finished with 12 points and four rebounds on 6-of-12 shooting, although the Mavericks were outscored by 24 points in his 24 minutes on the floor.
Meanwhile, Klay Thompson scored 14 points in 21 minutes by shooting 4-of-7 from behind the arc. Dereck Lively II also made his presence felt defensively for Dallas, racking up two steals and two blocks to go along with six rebounds in 22 minutes.
As for Flagg, the hype surrounding his rookie year will likely continue to grow with his latest appearance. In his preseason debut on Monday, he finished with 10 points and six rebounds while blocking one shot in 10 minutes on the floor.
Dallas will begin its regular-season action against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 24.
Read the full article here