NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Eight games into his NBA career, Cooper Flagg is getting a feel for what it’s like to lose at the highest level.
The No. 1 overall pick hasn’t lost much before this point in his basketball journey, and he admits it’s a completely different feeling when someone individually learns the ways of the NBA.
“For me, that’s the most I’ve lost since, you know, I think ever? It’s obviously a lot different and you have to adjust to playing a lot more games and get used to it,” Flagg said during a news conference. “I wouldn’t say anyone is happy. Boys are trying to stay level headed and know we have a lot more games to go and it’s still very early.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks moves the ball down the court against the Houston Rockets during the first half at the Toyota Center on November 3, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
“Personally, I know it’s not fun to just keep losing and losing games, so (want to) make a change and hopefully start taking steps in the right direction.”
During his lone season at Duke last year, Flagg saw just four losses. While playing for Montverde Academy in Florida—after starting his high school career at Nokomis Regional High School in Maine—he didn’t lose much either, as Montverde went on to win a national title and he was named the Naismith National High School Player of the Year.
MAVERICKS SELECT COOPER FLAGG WITH TOP PICK IN 2025 NBA DRAFT AFTER CONTROVERSIAL LOTTERY
But the Mavericks have gone 2-6 to start the 2025-26 NBA season, which includes a loss Wednesday night to the New Orleans Pelicans, who had just one win in seven games entering the game.
As it stands Thursday, Dallas sits at the bottom of the Western Conference standings in 15th place.
Cooper Flagg speaks to the media during the 2025 NBA Draft – Round One on June 25, 2025 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images)
Now, it doesn’t help that the Mavs are also playing without two of their veteran stars along with Flagg. Kyrie Irving has a potential season-long injury, while Anthony Davis is already out for the season.
The Mavericks haven’t been blown out in their losses, but they haven’t been able to secure the close wins. The game against the Pelicans saw that situation, and it was Flagg who had the ball in his hands with less than 10 seconds left while trailing by two points.
Flagg had a shot in the lane, but he missed his opportunity to tie it, and the Pelicans secured the rebound and the win in the process. Flagg finished with 20 points and nine rebounds in 35 minutes on the court.
“We got to a good spot, a spot where I was able to get through the second half of the game. I got to a good spot, put one up on the rim — it just didn’t fall,” he said.
Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks leaves the court after a game against the Indiana Pacers at the American Airlines Center on October 29, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Flagg has had a good statistical start to his NBA career, averaging 14.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He just wants to start winning more while contributing to his Mavericks team in the box.
“It’s been fun to be able to compete at a high level,” he added. “There’s a lot to look back on and a lot of film to watch and learn from playing against such good defensemen. Some great learning experiences and moments to look back on and hopefully improve.”
