OKC teaches the reality of the NBA to Cooper Flagg

The start of Cooper Flagg's NBA career had a harsh reality check this Monday. The young star of the Dallas Mavericks, number one pick in the last draft, encountered the intensity and level of the Oklahoma City Thunder, current champions, who prevailed 101-94 and left the rookie with a forgettable performance.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 23 points. Chet Holmgren finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 16+12. For the Mavs, the top performer was Anthony Davis with 26 points and 11 rebounds.

Flagg suffered a left shoulder injury on the first possession of the game and, although he continued playing, he never found his rhythm. He ended with just two points (1 for 9 shooting), two rebounds, and no assists in 31 minutes. A very different night from the previous one, when he had shined with 22 points against the Toronto Raptors in his first professional win.

The 18-year-old, with a thermal bandage on his shoulder for much of the game, explained that the pain appeared when contesting a rebound. "We will do some tests to make sure everything is okay, but I think it's just a little sore. We need to monitor it, apply ice, do rehabilitation, and he should be ready," he said after the game.

Despite his effort to stay on the court, Flagg experienced another unusual moment for him: watching the end of the game from the bench. Jason Kidd decided to sit him down with over eight minutes left to play and only put him back in for a couple of defensive possessions. "It wasn't his night," the coach explained. "We are a team, and the group on the court gave us the best chance to win."

Tough night for Flagg

Flagg accepted the decision maturely, aware that his performance had not been up to par. "I had never been out in a moment like that, but I understand it. We had a group that was doing well, and I wasn't impacting the game. It was an easy decision for the coach," he acknowledged.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, OKC le enseña la realidad de la NBA a Cooper Flagg