Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg was among the NBA players listed by ESPN as a top newcomer for their respective teams entering the 2025-26 season.
Flagg was the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft after a dazzling freshman campaign last season, leading Duke to the Final Four. He is considered a generational prospect on the court and enters the upcoming season as the front-runner to win the Rookie of the Year award.
The 18-year-old is projected to play a significant role with the Mavericks, thanks to his potential to impact games on both ends of the court. He was listed as the eighth-most impactful newcomer because of those traits, according to Kevin Pelton.
The consensus top prospect in the 2025 draft is in an unusual spot for a No. 1 pick. The Mavericks were in the NBA Finals 15 months ago and played for a spot in the playoffs despite trading away Luka Doncic midseason and suffering a second-half injury cascade. Flagg isn’t Doncic and will need time to develop, but his well-rounded game should allow him to contribute to a playoff push immediately as he develops into the next great Dallas star.
Flagg logged two appearances with the Mavericks in summer league, averaging 20.5 points, five rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals on 35.7% shooting from the field. He produced 31 points and four rebounds in his final appearance on July 12 against the San Antonio Spurs.
The 6-foot-8 Maine native logged 62 minutes in the desert, showcasing each element of his game that made him so highly touted out of college. He played with and without the ball, which was likely a preview of his potential role in the regular season.
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said the team is going to ask a lot of Flagg to maximize his development. The organization is hopeful that Flagg can have a smooth transition to the NBA and help the team make another deep playoff run.