The Dallas Mavericks’ star rookie Cooper Flagg is making a good impression on teammates, including one veteran who likes one key factor he observed in minicamp.
As the 2025-2026 NBA season gets closer, the Mavericks are going in with high excitement thanks to their rookie forward Cooper Flagg. One teammate expressing their excitement with emphasis over what he’s shown in camp is veteran shooting guard Klay Thompson.
What Does Klay Thompson Expect From Cooper Flagg and Himself?
When asked by reporters about his impression of the 18-year-old after the team’s first practice, the four-time NBA champion was direct. “Cooper did great,” Thompson began. “I’m most impressed he did not sit out one drill.”
Klay Thompson on Cooper Flagg’s first practice:
“Cooper did great. 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.” pic.twitter.com/8rFIai9niW
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) September 30, 2025
The former Golden State Warrior added, “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.” Thompson then spoke about how seeing the skill and work ethic of the former Duke Blue Devil moved him to reflect on when he came to the NBA.
“I remember being a young player in this league, and you are so impressionable from what you see the veterans do. And I want to lead by example, I want to show him how much it means to me,” he said, adding: “As he furthers into his career he can be like, ‘Klay was my vet.’ That’s honestly greater than any scoring night I can have going forward. Just leaving a great imprint on this franchise.”
How Has Flagg Impressed His New Teammates?
The Mavericks are holding their training camp at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, and Flagg has stood out on a team boasting a new roster after the blockbuster trade of guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Anthony Davis. The team awaits point guard Kyrie Irving’s return from a torn ACL.
Ryan Nembhard saw the talent firsthand, as he played with Flagg for the Mavericks team in the Summer League this past July. “Plays super hard, super high motor, that’s what I love about him most. And he works really hard,” said Nembhard to CTV News. The point guard signed a two-way deal with Dallas and is the younger brother of Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard.
Thompson’s willingness to mentor Flagg could make one part of the Maine native’s game more explosive: his three-point shooting. During his one year with Duke, Flagg’s numbers from beyond the arc were decent as he had a 38.5% shooting percentage during the regular season. But scouts and observers noted that his shooting motion wasn’t fluid.
Having to work with one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA today can only help Flagg’s all-around game, as Thompson had a decent season, contributing 14 points per game with a 39.1% with Dallas, his lowest points output since his rookie year in Golden State in 2011.
However, the former “Splash Brother” isn’t focused on solo achievements; instead, it is strengthening a roster that looks to make some noise in the Western Conference behind a rookie who could be a generational force in the NBA.
