Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg on facing Jayson Tatum: ‘Someone I idolized growing up’

Cooper Flagg did not seem bothered that most of the attention Friday night went to Jayson Tatum.

If anything, the Dallas Mavericks rookie welcomed it.

Tatum returned from a torn Achilles in the Boston Celtics’ 120-100 win, drawing much of the spotlight. But for Flagg, simply sharing the court with a longtime role model was enough.

“It’s incredible,” Flagg told Christian Clark of The Athletic. “There are so many levels to it. He’s someone I idolized growing up. I watched him go through levels and ranks, watched him at Duke. I kind of followed in his footsteps.”

Flagg finished with 16 points while battling soreness in his left foot.

After the game, Tatum offered a few words of encouragement.

“He just told me to keep going,” Flagg said. “He’s been a mentor for me through my journey from Duke to now. Someone I’ve been able to talk to and get advice from.”

The night itself was not much fun for Dallas.

The Mavericks have now dropped six straight and 16 of their last 18, sliding further down the Western Conference standings. Flagg did not hide from that reality.

“I just think we weren’t organized,” he said. “Part of it is us still learning each other. And part of it was I wasn’t good enough.”

For the rookie, though, the experience still carried meaning. Playing against the player he once studied growing up.