BURNABY — When Cooper Flagg stepped on the court Tuesday, he found himself shooting baskets alongside some of the NBA players he grew up idolizing. Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson were all present alongside Flagg — the No. 1 pick in June’s draft — as the Dallas Mavericks opened training camp at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. “It’s incredible,” the 18-year-old rookie said of his new teammates. “I mean, I can learn so much just from being on the court and watching them play and just feeling out the spacing and the different things that they do. So it’s been incredible being on the court with the guys like that.” Flagg fit right in as Dallas started its pre-season prep, Thompson said. “Cooper did great,” said the four-time NBA champion. “I’m most impressed he did not sit out one drill. I don’t care how many shots he misses, how many mistakes he makes, the fact that he’s in there and he’s competing every single drill, that’s what impresses me.” Even on a team stacked with superstar talent, Flagg is drawing ample attention. The six-foot-nine athlete from Newport, Maine, had a standout campaign at Duke last season, averaging 19.2 points per game and getting named both national player of the year and national freshman player of the year by the U.S. Basketball Wristers Association. He pulled on a Mavs jersey while playing Summer League in Las Vegas and is eager to see true NBA action. “I’m ready. I’m excited,” Flagg said. “I’m just trying to take it one step at a time, enjoy the process every step of the way. So I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but I’m really excited.” He joins a Dallas team that’s undergone dramatic change since last fall. The Mavs stunned the basketball world in February when they dealt superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Davis. Now the team is pushing to get back to the playoffs after falling to the Memphis Grizzlies during the play-in tournament last season. “Every team, every year, is completely different,” said veteran forward Dwight Powell. ”I mean, even if you have a bunch of the same guys, one or two different players can make a big difference. And we’re definitely looking forward to the group we have. I think we have an extremely deep, extremely talented team.” Heading into his 12th NBA season, Powell has a lot of wisdom to share with young players. Doing so, though, is a balancing act. “Guys like (Flagg), you let them know that we’re here to help,” said the 34-year-old from Toronto. ”And there’s logistical things along the way, in terms of our schemes and our sets and different things, how to operate as a pro. “A kid like Cooper’s coming in with so much talent that we just want to make sure we’re setting him up to be successful, giving as much knowledge as we can and sharing our experiences, but understanding he’s on his own experience, his own his own journey, and it’s going to be unique to him. We’re just here to support him and guide him and protect him as much as we can.” Canadian point guard Ryan Nembhard played with Flagg in Summer League and said the teen sensation is “just a good dude.” “He’s all about winning,” he said. “Plays super hard, super high motor, that’s what I love about him most. And he works really hard. So I’m excited to keep playing with him, keep getting to know him and be a part of his journey.” Nembhard, who hails from Aurora, Ont. and is the younger brother of Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, is also trying to crack the Mavs roster after signing a two-way contract with Dallas in July. After playing Summer League, the 22-year-old Gonzaga University product relocated to Texas where he’s spent the last several weeks working out with other Mavs players and preparing to show why he deserves an NBA spot this season. “I’m just coming in trying to compete every day, put my best foot forward, and we’ll see where the chips land,” Nembhard said. ”All I can do is ask for opportunity, and that’s what I’m getting. So I’m excited.” This report by Gemma Karstens-Smith of The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2025.
