Check Out the Highlights of Maine’s Cooper Flagg Shining in NBA Debut

The 'Maine Event' has officially begun.

Newport native and basketball phenom Cooper Flagg made his NBA debut with the Dallas Mavericks in a preseason game against the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder last night.

Fans from Maine, Duke University, and across the country finally got to see Flagg in action against NBA superstars, even if it was just a preseason game.

Cooper Flagg Played Very Well in his First Preseason Game

Flagg did not disappoint in his 14 minutes of action. The rookie finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a monster block to help the Mavericks come away with a 106–89 victory over the Thunder.

Much of Flagg’s impact came midway through the second quarter, where he scored all 10 of his points, including two three-pointers. He also showed off his versatility by running the point at times for Dallas, as well as providing some strong leadership when needed.

Overall, it was a very productive first step into the professional game—especially considering the limited minutes, which isn’t surprising given that it was just the first preseason matchup. In fact, no starter for Dallas played more than 16 minutes last night.

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Flagg was the first overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, following an outstanding season at Duke, where he helped lead the Blue Devils to the Final Four. Now, he’s expected to be a major asset to a team desperate for a new face of the franchise after trading away its best player, Luka Dončić, last season. It will be exciting to see how he integrates into a roster that features veteran stars Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, D’Angelo Russell, and Kyrie Irving (when he returns from an ACL tear later this year).

When is Cooper Flagg Next Game?

Cooper and the Mavs have a bit of a break before their next preseason game, which will be this Saturday, October 11, against the Charlotte Hornets. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. The game should be available on NBA League Pass.