NBA’s next big thing, 18-year-old Cooper Flagg, is eager to make his professional debut with the Dallas Mavericks in the upcoming season. The 6’9″, 205 lb small forward has been the talk of the town since being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft. Flagg spent a year with the Duke Blue Devils, winning the National College Player of the Year award, among many other honors.
Flagg’s searing talents and positive skill set were identified soon, and the teenager was bound to turn pro after just one year at the collegiate level. Flagg has already given glimpses of what he can do after his impressive performances during the NBA summer league in July. Dallas fans and the entire league eagerly anticipate Flagg’s preseason debut with the Mavs.
When Will Cooper Flagg’s Preseason Debut be?
The Mavericks open their four-game preseason campaign on October 6 against the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, TX. A completely healthy Flagg, currently in the Dallas training camp alongside his fellow Mavs teammates, is expected to make his preseason debut Monday night.
THE FLAGG ERA BEGINS 🏁
No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg is READY for Year 1 🙌 pic.twitter.com/6Uae1QIWDc
— NBA (@NBA) October 1, 2025
Dallas has done fairly decent business during the offseason, re-signing Kyrie Irving and Brandon Williams while signing guard Ryan Nembhard to a two-way contract and Flagg to a rookie contract in July. With Anthony Davis in the mix, the Mavericks can play a good starting five consistently in the 2025-26 NBA season.
How to Watch Flagg’s Preseason Debut?
Game: Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks
- Where: Dickies Arena | Fort Worth, Tex.
- When: 8:30 p.m. ET; Monday, October 6
- TV: MAVSTV, KFAA, NBA TV
- Streaming: NBA TV/ESPN
What Did Cooper Flagg’s Dallas Teammates Have to Say About Him?
In just one week of summer camp, Flagg has made his presence felt on court and amongst his teammates in the clubhouse. His searing play style and high energy levels in training camp have made a positive, indelible impression on his teammates, especially the veterans Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis.
“Man, he has a lot of talent on both ends of the floor, but defensively, he’s going to shine. We’re going to put him in situations where you have to guard maybe the best wing, to have to guard Kevin Durant or Jimmy Butler or these guys. We have enough confidence in him to go out, send him out there and be able to guard those guys,” said Davis about Flagg.
“I’m most impressed he did not sit out one drill. I don’t care how many shots he misses or how many mistakes he makes. The fact that he’s in there and he’s competing every single drill, that’s what impresses me,” said Thompson about Flagg.
After the four preseason games, Dallas kicks off the Cooper era on the opening night of the 2025-26 NBA campaign when it hosts the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Center on October 22.
