Cooper Flagg is a basketball player who starred in college for the Duke Blue Devils. He led the team to a Final Four appearance in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. There were high expectations about Flagg’s career before he entered the NBA Draft and turned pro.

Everybody I’ve talked to has had this date circled since the schedule released,” said Flagg's trainer Matt MacKenzie of Friday's game.

The former Duke teammates are the two favorites to win the coveted NBA award after two standout rookie seasons.

However, Flagg is his own superstar, and he is proving it already in his first year with the Mavericks. With his two-way versatility, Cooper is leading Dallas with 20.1 points on 46.9 percent shooting from the field, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He is currently second in the Rookie of the Year race.

MILWAUKEE – As has been the case nearly every time he’s returned as the visiting team’s coach, Jason Kidd’s past and present melded Tuesday night in Fiserv Forum. Usually, he sits in the same interview room during pregame and gets asked about his role as the Milwaukee Bucks’ head coach from 2014-18 in turning young star Giannis Antetokounmpo into a two-time NBA MVP and an NBA champion.

The Mavericks’ teenage sensation has officially moved past his teammate in the record books, signaling a massive shift in the league's hierarchy.

The Dallas Mavericks are simply one loss away from getting eliminated from the 2026 NBA Playoffs. They face the Warriors next.

Cooper Flagg offered prayers for Moses Moody after the Warriors forward's non-contact knee injury in Golden State's 137-131 overtime win over Dallas.