To say the expectations for Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks are high is a severe understatement.
In fact, it’s been a very long time since any NBA rookie has earned the sort of attention and high hopes that Flagg has.
According to Basketball Forever, Flagg has already earned an 82 overall rating in NBA 2K26.
That is the second-highest rookie rating ever, behind only Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs a few years ago.
Cooper Flagg has an 82 overall rating in NBA 2K26, the second-highest rookie rating EVER, behind only Victor Wembanyama’s 84 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JnYcxiH8Th
— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) August 1, 2025
Those expectations around Flagg are obviously only getting higher.
That’s not a surprise, because he really is the sort of young star who could be a future All-Star and someone the Mavericks can build around.
That’s what they are hoping for, and Mavericks fans envision Flagg as someone who will lead their team for many years to come.
Flagg is going to get a lot of responsibility on the court right away.
The team is still reeling from the loss of Luka Doncic, and they are going to be without Kyrie Irving in the new season.
Flagg is giving this team a boost of confidence and goodwill, but they will have to get to work right away, and Flagg will be a vital part of their plans.
They will need a lot from him from the very start, and he won’t have much room for error.
If Flagg is anything short of terrific, people will worry about him and his team.
Wembanyama had one of the best rookie seasons of all time, so what will Flagg do during his first year with the Mavericks?
Will he earn that spectacular 82 overall rating?
