Cooper Flagg Says Double-double Debut ‘not Great’ As Wembanyama Dominates Mavs

3 weeks ago

Victor Wembanyama dunked connected Cooper Flagg’s debut. And changeable complete it. And dribbled astir it. And reminded everyone what was missing nan past 2 months of nan French star’s 2nd season.

Wembanyama wowed nan Dallas crowd, and had a noisy San Antonio contingent chanting “M-V-P! M-V-P!” successful nan teams’ play opener, getting 40 points and 15 rebounds successful nan Spurs’ 125-92 rout of nan Dallas Mavericks connected Wednesday night.

Flagg, nan No 1 wide prime successful this year’s draft, was nan talk of nan Dallas opener going into nan game. Coming out, nan talk was of Wembanyama, who offered a reminder why he was nan apical wide prime conscionable 2 years ago.

The 7ft 4in Frenchman was playing successful nan regular play for nan first clip since heavy vein thrombosis, a humor clot information successful his shoulder, required room and constricted him to 46 games past campaign.

“I deliberation we each knew he was going to beryllium assertive,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “He’s been retired 8 months. He’s been waiting for this astir apt longer and much thorough than anybody else. You saw him return nan infinitesimal and play spectacular.”

Flagg scored for nan Spurs earlier he scored for himself, getting called for goaltending successful nan 2nd quarter. His first bucket yet came connected nan first possession of nan 2nd half arsenic nan 18-year-old vanished pinch 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Flagg is nan second-youngest subordinate to commencement successful his debut, 2 days older than LeBron James was 22 years ago.

“He’s still a rookie,” said 13-year seasoned Anthony Davis, who opened his first afloat play pinch nan Mavericks aft his waste and acquisition from nan Lakers past February. “I’m not judge he’s a societal media feline aliases not. But everything was No 1 prime Cooper Flagg and Wemby matchup. So you’re proceeding it. I’m not judge if it sewage to him, but it’s first-game jitters erstwhile it’s clip for nan existent thing.”

Flagg didn’t moreover effort a changeable successful nan past 22 minutes of nan first half aft putting up a brace successful nan opening 2 minutes, including a near-dunk connected a accelerated break alley-oop from Davis. The shot started to spell down but came backmost out. He deed a jumper from nan free propulsion statement for his first points, and deed a reliable fadeaway for his 2nd bucket. Flagg was 4 of 13 from nan section and had 3 turnovers.

“I was excited, but I’m excited to spell on,” Flagg said. “Obviously, it hurts, nan first nonaccomplishment being for illustration that. Try to look guardant to nan adjacent one, move nan page and get ready. We cognize we’ve sewage a batch amended than that. Staying affirmative and staying ready.”

Asked astir his performance, Flagg was blunt. “Not great,” he said. “Obviously, didn’t play incredibly well, but we’ve sewage to move past it, move our attraction and commencement looking toward Friday [against nan Washington Wizards].”

Wembanyama, meanwhile, was dominant. The 21-year aged had 7 of San Antonio’s 12 dunks arsenic nan Spurs outscored nan Mavericks 68-26 successful nan overgarment and outshot Dallas 58%-37%. Wembanyama was 15 of 21 from nan section and had 3 blocks.

“We needed to make a connection successful nan locker room. I consciousness for illustration I needed to make a connection to my teammates,” Wembanyama said. “It’s besides conscionable nan opening because there’s truthful overmuch much I want to adhd to my game. Some things return clip and maturity.”

Wembanyama many times went correct astatine Davis, a five-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. After his dunk precocious successful nan 2nd quarter, he deed a jumper while drafting Davis’ 4th foul. In nan 2nd half, he dribbled astatine and astir him for a left-handed slam. Davis was brought to Dallas for defense successful a woody that costs nan Mavericks a generational violative prima successful his premier successful Luka Dončić.

Wembanyama’s capacity was an eye-opener for Flagg, but thing he was expecting.

“He’s incredible,” Flagg said. “He’s a different player. You can’t cognize what it’s for illustration until you’re connected nan tribunal pinch him. It’s thing I’ve ne'er seen before. He was awesome tonight, but we’ve to do a amended occupation of trying to return distant immoderate of his looks. You can’t foul him arsenic overmuch arsenic we did.”

The 6ft 9in Flagg was technically nan starting constituent defender arsenic nan Mavericks await nan return of Kyrie Irving, which is apt months distant arsenic he recovers from a torn ACL.