The NBA hasn’t seen this level of rookie buzz since LeBron James suited up for Cleveland in 2003. Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks’ 2025 first-round pick, has not only lived up to the hype in Summer League play—he’s exceeded it, becoming the early, undisputed frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.
At 6-foot-9 with a wingspan that swallows passing lanes and a motor that doesn’t quit, Flagg has been a revelation. In five Summer League games, the 19-year-old averaged 21.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and a league-leading 2.8 blocks per game. But the stats only tell part of the story. Flagg’s game intelligence, his defensive timing, and his ability to control momentum are already NBA-caliber.
“It’s like watching a vet who knows the game better than some coaches,” said Summer League analyst Antonio Daniels. “He’s not just getting numbers—he’s dictating the game.”
Flagg’s transition into Jason Kidd’s system has been shockingly smooth. His pick-and-pop chemistry with Luka Dončić during team scrimmages has drawn comparisons to the early days of Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. In fact, sources within the Mavericks’ coaching staff say Flagg has already been practicing with the first unit and is expected to start at the forward position come opening night.
“He doesn’t just play the right way—he thinks the right way,” Kidd told reporters. “That’s rare. You don’t teach that.”
The NBA’s annual Rookie Watch poll, compiled from votes by league executives, coaches, and media members, has Flagg receiving 78% of first-place votes—nearly triple that of the next closest contender, USC’s Isaiah Collier, now with the Pistons.
Flagg’s early impact isn’t limited to the court. Jersey sales have soared since the Mavericks unveiled his No. 33 in June, and local sports stores report running out of merchandise weekly. Flagg-mania is very real in North Texas—and growing nationwide.
“Everything you’d want in a modern forward, he brings to the table,” said ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins. “He’s already better defensively than 75% of the league.”
The whispers around the league suggest Flagg could become Dallas’s defensive anchor while also filling a much-needed secondary scoring role behind Dončić. His calm demeanor, combined with his ferocious competitive edge, recalls legends more than peers. Comparisons to a young Kevin Garnett or Kawhi Leonard have started to feel less hyperbolic and more prophetic.
Despite the growing noise, Flagg remains grounded. “I’m just trying to learn every day, get better, and help this team win,” he said after his 25-point, 12-rebound outing against the Nuggets’ Summer League squad. “That’s the only goal right now.”
If his current trajectory holds, that goal could soon include playoff wins—and hardware. The Rookie of the Year race has only just begun, but Cooper Flagg is sprinting ahead, and for now, nobody else is even close.
