Copyright Yardbarker
Dallas Mavericks rookie forward Cooper Flagg may have to get used to something he hasn't done much of throughout his career: losing. On Wednesday night, Dallas lost 101-99 to the New Orleans Pelicans at home. What makes the loss even more frustrating for the Mavericks is that the Pelicans were without star forward Zion Williamson (left hamstring). Dallas is now 2-6 and has lost its last three games. Flagg can't remember the last time he lost this much. Cooper Flagg admits this is one of the first times he has experienced failure "For me, I think it's the most I've lost since, I think, ever," Flagg said in a postgame news conference, via Abby Jones of DLLS Sports. "But I wouldn't say anybody's happy. Guys are obviously trying to stay level-headed and know that we've got a lot more games to go and it's still really early. I know it's not fun just to keep on losing." Flagg won a high school national championship in his senior year at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Fla., and led the Duke Blue Devils to the Final Four in one collegiate season. Don't expect him to achieve that same level of success this season. Mavericks forward Anthony Davis is battling a calf issue, and guard Kyrie Irving isn't expected to return until at least January 2026 because of an ACL tear. Dallas' other stars, meanwhile, are struggling. Guard Klay Thompson has been removed from the starting lineup amid a shooting slump. Through eight games, he's averaging 8.5 points per game on a career-low 34.2 percent shooting from the field. To his credit, Flagg is showing why Dallas took him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Against New Orleans, he scored 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting and logged nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals. But asking a rookie to salvage a team with this many problems is too much. Before the season, Flagg seemed unaware he was entering a potential mess. Now, he may be realizing it's time to lower expectations for the Mavericks this season.
