Cooper Flagg shines in Dallas debut

Dallas Mavericks hoops players suffered a 116:120 decision successful the preparatory crippled for the caller NBA play against the Charlotte Hornets. However, the attraction of the assemblage and the American media was mostly attracted by the archetypal draught prime Cooper Flagg, who galore spot arsenic the successor to Luka Doncic successful Dallas.

The precise sanction of Luka Doncic inactive evokes comparisons with Flagg, particularly aft NBA followers began to speculate that the accomplishment of the archetypal prime successful Dallas was somewhat "set up".

Arriving successful Dallas?

Doncic was unexpectedly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers astatine the opening of February, which near galore fans speechless. Some claimed connected societal media astatine the clip that the league encouraged Dallas to marque the commercialized to guarantee that 1 of the biggest stars would extremity up successful Los Angeles. In return, they gave the Mavericks the archetypal prime successful the draft, adjacent though they lone had a 1.8 percent accidental of getting that position.

Leading American analysts and assemblage coaches judge that Flagg is the top endowment from the USA since LeBron James. He played lone 1 play of assemblage basketball, but adjacent past helium was earning immense numbers. American writer Howard Bryant revealed that successful that play helium earned 28 cardinal dollars from sponsors - 15 cardinal from Fanatics and 13 cardinal from New Balance.

Flagg made that nett done the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) contract, which allows pupil athletes to gain from their representation and brand, portion remaining eligible for the NBA draft. Before 2021, it was strictly prohibited.

Versatile connected the floor

Flagg spent astir 24 minutes connected the level past night. In that time, helium registered 11 baskets (1/2 for a three-pointer, 3/6 for a two-pointer, 2/2 escaped throws), 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 won and 5 turnovers. Klay Thompson (14) and Anthony Davis (12) scored the astir for Dallas, portion Miles Bridges (20 kills, 11 rebounds) and LaMelo Ball (20 kills, six assists) led the Hornets to victory.

Flagg showed that helium tin beryllium a cardinal fig for Dallas successful the aboriginal and justified his presumption arsenic 1 of the astir promising young hoops players successful the world.