Cooper Flagg entered the NBA with a résumé built almost entirely on winning. His transition to the Dallas Mavericks has brought a different challenge — learning how to grow as a young player on a team navigating injuries, close losses, and an inconsistent lineup.

Dallas sits at 5–14 after Monday’s tight finish in Miami, and Flagg has already been part of more losses in one month than he experienced in the previous four years combined across Duke, Montverde Academy and Nokomis Regional High. The circumstances are new, but his approach has remained calm.

Speaking after the loss to the Heat, Flagg said the adjustment has required leaning on perspective.

“I’m just trying to keep my people close to me, my family, obviously,” Flagg said. “But I think the other part, just being optimistic, it’s a long season. We’ve had a lot of guys step up, deal with a lot of injuries. And there’s been a lot of positive that we’ve been able to take from some of these games as well.”

Expanded Responsibilities, Steady Poise

Flagg has averaged 15.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 18 games this season, and he has logged more minutes than any first-year player so far. He has scored in double figures in all but one game, raised his overall efficiency since the opening weeks, and routinely finds himself closing games despite being just 18.

Miami’s Bam Adebayo said those situations don’t appear to rattle him.

“He’s not scared of the moment,” Adebayo said. “A lot of guys would move to the corner when there’s two minutes left in a close ball game … he was going to get the ball. He’s growing up faster than people think.”

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra pointed specifically to Flagg’s composure as a defining strength at this stage.

“His competitive spirit and how competitively mature he is for his age,” Spoelstra said. “He’s not even 19 yet. Is that correct? I mean, that’s crazy.”

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd echoed that sentiment after Flagg attacked Adebayo late in the game.

“He keeps it simple. Whatever the defense gives him, that’s what he does,” Kidd said. “The ability to drive to get to the basket, to get the foul, knock the free throws down — that’s big for an 18-year-old.”

Managing a Thumb Injury and Shooting Dip

Flagg has been playing through a right thumb sprain since Nov. 8, an injury suffered while attempting a dunk against Washington. He continues to wear a taped splint during games, and the adjustment has coincided with a dip in his perimeter shooting — 25% from three since the injury, including 1-for-11 across his last three outings.

Even so, he said the confidence isn’t going anywhere.

“It feels solid,” Flagg said. “I still believe in it. I know I can knock down shots. I’m confident it’ll come and I’ll start hitting shots. All I can do is keep taking them.”

Learning in Repeated Clutch Situations

The Mavericks have played 15 clutch games — defined as matchups within five points in the final five minutes — the most in the league. They are 4–11 in those situations and have had six of their last seven games decided by the final moments.

Those minutes have become part of Flagg’s nightly workload.

Kidd noted after Monday’s game that the repetition, while difficult for the team, is giving Flagg important experience.

“For himself and the team to go through this tough time of losing close games, it’s only going to make us better as we go forward,” Kidd said. “Especially for Cooper — he’s getting to see a lot of different close games and how to handle different situations.”

Steady Presence in a Challenging Environment

Dallas has often played without Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery), Anthony Davis (left calf strain), and Dereck Lively II (right foot injury management), leaving Flagg and several young players to fill larger roles. The team has still competed well defensively, stayed connected in close games, and found steadier point guard play with Ryan Nembhard returning from a knee sprain — all small signs of progress around Flagg’s increasing responsibilities.

Through it all, he has stayed level-headed.

“Being optimistic,” Flagg said. “We have a lot of games going forward. Just staying positive.”

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