Cooper Flagg discussed his fourth consecutive 30-point game despite the Dallas Mavericks’ 135-123 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.
On his connection with Naji Marshall, Flagg said, “Me and Naji have played a lot of minutes together this year… it’s just a relationship we build out there, trusting each other. He plays the right way, I play the right way, so it’s kind of easy to gel together.”
Flagg addressed the difficulty of guarding Victor Wembanyama. “It’s definitely tough. He got hot… you just have to give something up at some point. You can’t expect to be perfect. He was high; it’s tough to stop him when he gets in that type of mode.”
Regarding his playmaking, Flagg acknowledged areas for improvement. “Honestly, I probably had too many turnovers tonight, but just trying to find the open man, make the right play… they were helped all the way in off him.”
He also shared insights on his personal routine and preparation. “Getting a good routine in place and sticking to it… I’ve had to make adjustments along the way and found stuff that works better. Consistency has helped a lot along the way.”
Flagg commented on the Mavericks’ recent trades. “It’s tough… those are guys I came in with my first year, amazing on and off the court. I wish them all the best. I’m blessed to be here moving forward with whoever’s out there on the court.”
He expressed confidence in the team’s future. “We still have some really great guys here… young players like Naji, Max, PJ. I think we have a really bright future and can keep competing and getting better every day.”
Reflecting on being a foundational piece, Flagg said, “It gives me a lot of confidence… it doesn’t really change much. I’m going to go out there every night, be consistent, and try to be the best version of myself.”
Flagg described his learning process in the NBA. “Just a little bit of all of it… I watch a good amount of film, have coaches and trainers helping me… take criticism and implement it as fast as I can.”
He noted growth in his pace and composure. “Getting to my spots, living with the shots I want to take, not letting defenses speed me up or force me into looks I don’t want to take… that’s come a long way since the start of the season.”
On adjusting to the reality of his rookie season, Flagg said, “It’s been different than expected, obviously… tough losing, but just learning from losses, taking positives away, and continuing to compete and get better every day.”
Thursday’s game saw Flagg score 32 points, matching Marshall, as Dallas fell to 19-32. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 29 points and 11 rebounds, while De’Aaron Fox added two key late three-pointers. The teams meet again Saturday in San Antonio, offering the Mavericks a chance to break their six-game losing streak.
