The NBA China Games offered a clear look at how quickly Cooper Flagg is developing. Despite a team tradition of treating him like a rookie, with menial duties such as carrying bags, Flagg has moved well beyond that label. In two preseason games against the Houston Rockets in Macao, he played just 45 minutes and scored 33 points with 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks. He hunted his shot and set up teammates with the kind of confidence that undercuts any idea that he is still a newcomer.
What stands out most is his voice. Flagg is vocally involved in the game, showing how he is moving from focusing on his own play to directing everyone else's. He says he is "just finding my voice" and believes he has earned the respect of his teammates. Kyrie Irving was blunt about it: "He's going to lead this franchise into the future. You can definitely bank on that." Irving added, "He's wise beyond his years."
The week was also a business event. Flagg unveiled a personal New Balance logo, combining his initials with a pine tree that nods to his home state of Maine. NBA commissioner Adam Silver attended meetings with Chinese partners, and Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont, who is also CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., hosted the trip. Flagg is still only 19 and will not turn 20 until Dec. 21.
While the Mavericks sit in a deep Western Conference and do not command national attention, Flagg's development is hard to ignore. Between his scoring, playmaking and leadership, his rise increasingly looks like a matter of when, not if, he becomes a franchise cornerstone.
Source: ESPN NBA · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing