Check out the best moments from Cooper Flagg's Rookie of the Year season.
Dallas Mavericks star Cooper Flagg is good at exceeding expectations.
The top prospect from the 2024 high school class, and arguably the greatest player ever from his home state of Maine, Flagg arrived at Duke with sky-high potential. And he delivered, in the stat sheet and the win column, as he won National College Player of the Year and helped lead Duke to the ACC title and a Final Four run.
The expectations continued to grow after the Mavs selected Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-9 forward delivered again with steady, season-long dominance, averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists and winning Kia NBA Rookie of the Year.
If the past predicts the future, then Flagg is poised for a must-see sophomore NBA season with new coach Dusty May at the helm of Dallas, Kyrie Irving back from injury, and No. 9 overall pick Morez Johnson Jr. in the frontcourt.
Here are 10 key games to circle on the calendar for Flagg during the 2026-27 season.
1. Season debut vs. Rockets & KD
- Mavericks vs. Rockets – Wed., Oct. 21 (8:30 ET, NBA League Pass)
The action tips off for Flagg and the Mavericks with a matchup against Kevin Durant and the in-state rival Houston Rockets. Flagg averaged 18.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in four games last season against Durant, who praised Flagg and predicted he will be “considered one of the best of all-time.”
2. Home opener vs. Spurs & Wemby
- Spurs vs. Mavericks – Sat., Oct. 24 (8 ET, NBA League Pass)
After the season debut in Houston, the Mavericks host their home opener against another Texas rival – the San Antonio Spurs. Flagg faces off against the 2023 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama, who tallied 31.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in four wins against Flagg last season. Flagg averaged 22.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the losses, and will look to secure his first win against Wemby in the home opener.
3. National TV clash against OKC
- Thunder vs. Mavericks – Wed., Oct. 28 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
The two-time reigning MVP storms into Dallas during Week 2 as the Thunder face off against the Mavericks in Flagg’s first national TV game of the season. Last season, on Oct. 27, Flagg posted his lowest-scoring game of the season against OKC with 2 points in 31 minutes. Almost exactly one year later, Flagg hopes to flip the script against SGA and OKC under the national TV spotlight.
4. Emirates NBA Cup Group Play begins
- Rockets vs. Mavericks – Fri., Oct. 30 (8 ET, NBA League Pass)
Flagg and the Mavs tip off the Emirates NBA Cup with another early-season matchup against Durant and the Rockets. The Mavs are looking for a stronger showing in the NBA Cup in 2026 after posting a 1-3 record during Group Play last season. This Group Play matchup will be the second of four games between the division rivals in 2026-27.
5. No. 1 picks battle in San Antonio
- Mavericks vs. Spurs – Wed., Nov. 4 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
Every Flagg vs. Wemby matchup should be circled on your calendar. This Week 3 matchup will be the second clash of the season between the former No. 1 picks. They meet again on Feb. 9 in Dallas (8 ET, NBC/Peacock) and March 19 in San Antonio (8 ET, NBA League Pass).
6. Return to the Northeast
- Mavericks vs. Celtics – Sun., Nov. 15 (6 ET, NBA League Pass)
Flagg, whose hometown of Newport, Maine, is about 3 hours away from Boston, grew up a Celtics fan and he will have the chance to shine on the parquet court in November. Last season in Boston, Flagg scored 16 points with eight rebounds and six assists in a 20-point loss. This game will also be a return to Boston for Kyrie Irving.
7. Flagg at Madison Square Garden
- Mavericks vs. Knicks – Sat., Jan. 16 (7:30 ET, NBA League Pass)
What’s a bigger challenge than facing the defending champs? Facing them under the spotlight of Madison Square Garden. Flagg tallied 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists for a win in New York last season. This will be the first matchup between the Mavs and Knicks, with the second clash scheduled for Thurs., March 4 (9:30 ET, Prime Video).
8. Duke homecoming in Charlotte
- Mavericks vs. Hornets – Sat., Feb. 13 (3:30 ET, Prime Video)
A return to North Carolina isn’t just a Duke homecoming for Flagg. It’s also the chance for him to clash against his former Duke teammate (and roommate) Kon Knueppel, who finished second behind Flagg in the 2025 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year chase. This matchup in Charlotte will be the second time the sophomore standouts face off during the 2026-27 season. The first matchup will take place in Dallas on Jan. 19 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock).
9. The King visits on Presidents’ Day
- Sixers vs. Mavericks – Mon., Feb. 15 (2:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
Flagg and the Mavs will host LeBron James and the star-studded Sixers for a midday matchup during the first-ever Presidents’ Day quadrupleheader. When LeBron entered the league in 2003, Flagg was still three years away from being born. Last season, Flagg made a good first impression on the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, with LeBron saying, “I love what he’s doing. I love what he’s bringing to this franchise.”
10. No. 1 picks battle in Dallas
- Wizards vs. Mavericks – Thurs., March 11 (8 ET, NBA League Pass)
Flagg will face off against another young star on March 11 when the Mavericks battle 2026 No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa and the Wizards. This will be the first matchup between Flagg and Dybantsa, who were both ranked No. 1 in their high school classes. In addition to Dybantsa, Flagg will also have the chance to go up against Anthony Davis and Deandre Ayton, the No. 1 picks in 2012 and 2018.
