AI Summary
5 min readCooper Flagg walked into a Team USA practice as a rookie and gave NBA veterans buckets. That moment, recalled by the Locked On NBA Daily panel, crystallized why the second-year Maverick is generating so much buzz after two preseason games in China against the Rockets. Across 45 total minutes, Flagg put up 22 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. More than the numbers, the hosts noticed something else: the game had slowed down for him.
Cooper Flagg’s Second-Year Leap
Flagg himself told Brian Windhorst that as a rookie he felt like he was “flying blind.” Now, everything is processing more clearly. The hosts debated just how big a leap is coming. Hayes pointed out that Dallas’s decision to experiment with Flagg at point guard last season, while awkward at times, forced him to process the game differently than if he had played power forward all year. That developmental foundation is now paying off.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:06) **Show Intro & Cooper Flagg Preview** - Hosts Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore, and Hayes introduce the show and preview Cooper Flagg's preseason performance.
- 2 (01:52) **Cooper Flagg's Preseason Breakout** - Discussion of Flagg's 22-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist performance over two preseason games in China.
- 3 (12:47) **NBA Rookie of the Year Race** - The hosts debate which rookie will make the biggest impact this season.
- 4 (29:48) **Knicks' Payroll & Trade Rumors** - Discussion on the Knicks pausing extension talks with Deuce McBride, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Josh Hart.
- 5 Standout Quotes
- 6 (03:50) "I think Cooper's probably going to be anywhere between 20 and 25 points per game this season. I would not be surprised." - Hayes
- 7 (10:40) "I think it's entirely possible that by the end of the year I'm like, no, no, no, Cooper Flagg's a top 15 player in the league." - Matt Moore
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Is Cooper Flagg about to become an NBA SUPERSTAR? The Dallas Mavericks' young phenom put on a show against the Houston Rockets in China, and his preseason performance has everyone asking the same question: Just how big of a leap is coming?
Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize debate Flagg's ceiling for the 2026-27 NBA season after he totaled 22 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, three steals and two blocks in 45 minutes across two games. Could he finish the season as a top-20 NBA player?
Then, it's time for an NBA Rookie Watch. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson have impressed in the preseason, but which rookie will make the biggest immediate impact? The guys make their early Rookie of the Year predictions and spotlight other emerging players. Finally, are the defending champion New York Knicks getting too clever with their payroll? With Miles McBride emerging as a potential trade candidate, the guys debate New York's second-apron strategy.
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