DALLAS — Cooper Flagg told WFAA the summer heat is the only thing he would complain about in Dallas. The station published its extended interview with the Dallas Mavericks forward Tuesday, four days into his second training camp.
Dallas took Flagg first overall out of Duke on June 25, 2025. Two days later, the Mavericks introduced him at their practice facility. Flagg is from Newport, Maine, and he turns 20 in December.
Cooper Flagg On Dallas And The Summer Heat
Flagg has now spent two summers in North Texas. The weather is the one knock he has on the city after this one.
“Dallas has been amazing,” Flagg said. “It’s a beautiful city. Incredible people. There’s not much to complain about. I wish it would cool down a little bit, it’s been a very hot summer. That’s my only complaint. And you know what, if that’s what I complain about in the place I live for the rest of my life, I have worse things to worry about.”
Flagg signed his four-year, $62,730,226 rookie-scale contract in July 2025, according to Spotrac. He is making $14,517,480 this season. Dallas has until Oct. 31 to exercise his $15,208,680 team option for 2027-28, and the deadline on his 2028-29 option is Oct. 31, 2027. Spotrac lists him as a restricted free agent in 2029.
Cooper Flagg Enters Year Two At 6-Foot-10
Flagg won Rookie of the Year last season after averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 70 starts. He led the Mavericks in points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Dallas finished 26-56.
He shot 46.8% from the field and 29.5% from 3-point range as a rookie. Flagg said at media day Friday that he now measures 6-foot-10 without shoes. He was listed at 6-foot-9 last season.
“I’ve been in the weight room a lot, so I’m glad it’s showing a little bit,” Flagg told WFAA.
Flagg got to American Airlines Center an hour early Friday to get a head start on media day. He described his offseason as taking care of his body, resting, and getting his mind right before getting back in the gym.
“At points last year I was going in blind a little bit,” Flagg explained. “Obviously I hadn’t been through a lot of those experiences before. So I think just having that this year is a big help, just feeling prepared, feeling ready. There’s a lot less to worry about, I feel like. And so I’m just going in focused on just the games and feeling really prepared and confident for it.”
Flagg and Kyrie Irving have never shared the floor in a regular-season game. Irving tore the ACL in his left knee March 3, 2025, and said Friday he has no restrictions entering camp. Flagg told WFAA he is looking forward to playing with Irving and called him one of the all-time greats.
Changing the culture is what Flagg told WFAA he is most excited about this season. Mavericks coach Dusty May won the 2026 national championship at Michigan before Dallas hired him the day before the 2026 draft, and camp under May opened Saturday.
The Mavericks open the preseason in Macao against the Houston Rockets on Oct. 9 at 7 a.m. CT at The Venetian Arena. A second game there against Houston follows Oct. 11. Opening night for Dallas is Oct. 21 at Houston, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. CT. The Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs in the home opener Oct. 24 at American Airlines Center.
