Wednesday night marks a new era for Mavericks basketball.
Dallas stunned the basketball world last February when it traded franchise superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis — the most shocking deal in NBA history. Heightening the drama, Dallas struck gold in the draft lottery, winning the No. 1 pick and the rights to Doncic’s replacement: Duke phenom Cooper Flagg.
Flagg, hailed as the most hyped NBA prospect since LeBron James, instantly transforms a Mavs squad that seemed destined for a rebuild into a legitimate title contender.
The 18-year-old forward has massive shoes to fill, and he’ll look to make a statement in his professional debut against the Spurs.
Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET at American Airlines Center. Dallas enters as a -155 favorite on the moneyline, while San Antonio is listed as a +130 underdog. The total is set at 223.5 points.Ahead of his Wednesday night debut, here’s my favorite Cooper Flagg prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best Cooper Flagg prop bet for Spurs vs. Mavericks
Dallas fans rejoiced when the Mavericks won the draft lottery — a.k.a. the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes.
Standing 6-foot-9, the burgeoning star rose to national acclaim in high school, consistently ranked as the top recruit in his class and recognized as the 2024 Naismith Player of the Year award. Flagg compounded his high school dominance with a stellar freshman year at Duke, where he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals across 37 games, shooting 48 percent from the field and 39 percent from deep.
It was a no-brainer to take Flagg with the first pick — a player teeming with potential to become one of the most complete talents the game has ever seen. And while he might not hit that ceiling right away, he could be poised for a dazzling debut.
In a limited sample size, Flagg averaged 11.3 points, 4.5 boards, and 2.8 assists in just over 20 minutes per game across four preseason appearances. Expect that volume to rise against San Antonio, as he logged 28 minutes in his last preseason outing on Oct. 15 — where he put up 13 points on 5-of-11 from the floor.
While Flagg will primarily be stationed on the wing, he’ll likely get looks at point guard, as the organization has already taken a liking to his playmaking pedigree. He could do damage from either spot against a Spurs defense that ranked 27th in defensive rating last season — and will be without star guard De’Aaron Fox.
Whether he’s dumping the ball down to Davis down low, kicking it out to Klay Thompson in the corner, or taking it himself, Flagg could usher in the Mavericks’ new era with a complete, all-around performance.
