In just a month and a half, Cooper Flagg has become one of the NBA’s most talked-about names, stepping straight into a starting role with the Dallas Mavericks. Even GM Nico Harrison emphasized that the decision was part of a larger plan, saying, “You’re going to see us play a different style of basketball with him (Flagg) and P.J. Washington on the wings.” But that spotlight, even before his first regular-season tip-off, has already drawn skepticism. Former UNC guard Rashad McCants argued that today’s rookies, Flagg included, are being fast-tracked and “over-hyped” before proving themselves. Flagg, however, offered a different perspective in a recent interview, making clear the attention wasn’t handed to him, but earned.

For Rashad McCants, Flagg’s quick elevation in Dallas is less a success story and more proof that the NBA is hyping untested rookies. “I’m not really big on the freshmen coming out and the young guys because they’re underdeveloped. They’re so underdeveloped and so overhyped,” he said, citing a contrasting example from his era. “Kobe Bryant had to sit two years under Del Harris based on his head coach not believing in playing first or second-year guys. But it helped him a lot.” Yes, the bar is set high, and failure to prove oneself can ruin a budding career. Yet while his concerns about the modern path may carry weight, Flagg appears to be an exception, and his recent interview reveals why.

Speaking to Slam in a recent interview, Cooper Flagg answered questions about his process and growth. “For me, it’s just loving to win and loving that competition like I’ve always just wanted to win more than anything else, so that kind of just stems from there just wanting to win.” He did it in the Summer league, averaging 20.5 points. Passed the first test, hopes to do it once the regular season unfolds. And his remarks push back against the notion that he expects shortcuts.

On camera, he said, “I think just having Coach Shire trusting me and just like having that usage and him just putting the ball in my hands a lot and letting me make decisions just helps my game to grow a lot in that area of just making plays for myself and for others.” Flagg proved it in his college days; he wants to repeat it here, too. Not just his words, even stats and records reflect why he is special.

• Flagg’s 42 points set the ACC freshman single-game scoring record, leading fourth-ranked Duke to an 86-78 win over Notre Dame.*

He also added, “It’s always been about just getting better all around. There’s always so much you can work on and get better at, so just trying to get better all around all the time”. Those lines read less like entitlement and more like process. From an exemplary 3P% of 38.5% at Duke, to dropping 31 points with a 35.7% FG in only his second NBA summer league game, Flagg has not ceased to deliver. The hunger reflects a mindset, even in his humble upbringing.

“I’m just excited to be surrounded by a lot of older, experienced guys who had success winning at the highest level. So, I think it would be really cool for me to be able to learn from them. Be a sponge and soak it all, love it, and learn a lot.” While McCants fears Cooper might crumble under the pressure, these words reflect that the teenager is taking measured steps. Learn, respect, and then shoot. This mindset is not just talk. It’s backed by action and rapid on-court results.

Flagg scored 709 points across only 37 games at Duke, getting himself a well-deserved first-round pick. In Summer League, his first game produced 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals despite poor shooting. That quick adjustment from one game to the next, along with his impeccable stats at Duke, gives tangible evidence against the idea that rookies are simply handed roles without needing to grow.

If you want to measure readiness, you have to weigh both production and attitude—and on both fronts, Flagg makes a strong case that McCants’s critique is too sweeping. The real debate is narrower: how should the team balance rookies with opportunity? In Flagg’s case, his college numbers and first pro outings serve less as promise and more as proof.

Why Cooper Flagg looks more than ready for the big stage

Flagg’s Duke season combined scoring, playmaking, and rebounding at a rare level for a freshman, which is why teams viewed him as pro-ready. He posted 19.2 points per game on 50.3 field goal percentage and 38.9 percent from three. The highest scoring average by a Duke first-year since Kyrie Irving’s 17.4 in 2010–11. While adding 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists, numbers that earned him the Wooden Award (4th freshman to earn the award) and unanimous All ACC honors.

At Duke, he averaged 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks and posted a KenPom on-off differential of plus 8.7, which signals impact on both ends rather than empty scoring. This two-way prowess puts him in a special category of rookie, similar to recent immediate-impact players like Paolo Banchero, Cade Cunningham, and Victor Wembanyama. The comparisons do not prove future stardom, but they show a pattern where elite colleges all around often leads to. Flagg’s college performance justified the Mavericks’ plan to feature him prominently from day one, a decision based on proven excellence, not just potential.

His response in the summer league in a Bronny vs Flagg debate also silenced critics. More importantly, he showcased his capacity for rapid adjustment, attacking the rim more aggressively and connecting on his first three NBA three-pointers. Across his two outings, Flagg averaged 20.5 points, five rebounds, and 2.5 assists while adding steals and blocks.

The Mavericks staff publicly praised his motor and feel for the game. Moreover, analysts placed him atop Rookie of the Year projections, which gives the idea of instant roles more nuance than simple handouts. Coach Josh Broghamer summed up the floor work when he said, “One thing with Cooper is we don’t have to worry about him being in the gym. He’s always going to work and try to get better whether he’s playing the games or not”.

The anecdote from the Mavericks staff about Flagg asking to play a third game also frames his mentality perfectly. Coaches laughed and said “No. You’re good”. And Flagg replied, “I just don’t want people to think the good game was a fluke”. That exchange shows hunger and accountability rather than entitlement. And when you combine it with his work ethic and early adjustments, you get a clearer picture of why blanket claims about underdeveloped rookies miss some important modern realities.