Image Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

Jayson Tatum is Excited to See Cooper Flagg in Action During Upcoming NBA Season

Image Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum revealed that he is most excited to see No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg in action during the NBA 2025-26 season. Tatum, who is most likely to miss the entire upcoming season, is undergoing rehabilitation. He suffered an unfortunate season-ending Achilles injury during the NBA playoffs against the New York Knicks. While he recently cleared the air about his participation in the forthcoming season and stated that he might step up on the court sometime later, the return is not fixed yet.

However, the star forward is excited for the next season of the league, set to begin on October 21, 2025. The year will also see a fresh set of players making their debuts in the professional world. Fans are excited to see young players pair up with the stalwarts and take their respective franchises to newer heights. While Tatum would be on sidelines for most of the games, it doesn’t dim his enthusiasm about the class of 2025.

When asked which rookie he cannot wait to see lace up for their new teams, Tatum made his choice clear. And it is none other than the first overall pick, Cooper Flagg, who will suit up for the Dallas Mavericks. Tatum’s answer is pretty obvious, considering the fact that he himself played with the Duke Blue Devils before the 2024 champions selected him as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

There have been many instances earlier as well where the two-time Olympic gold medalist heaped praise on the Blue Devils phenom. Talking about his gameplay, the six-time NBA All-Star once said that Flagg “just plays the right way”. According to Tatum, cheering for his fellow Blue Devils is “brotherhood.”

Are Dallas Mavericks Already Dependent on Cooper Flagg for Their Success?

The Dallas Mavericks drafted Flagg as the first overall pick during the 2025 NBA Draft after finishing the previous season in the tenth spot in the West. While the 18-year-old is yet to play his first regular season game, he has already set everyone’s expectations high, owing to his decorated collegiate resume.

Despite playing only one season with Duke, the Newport-born led his team to the NCAA Final Four. Not only this, but he also became one of the few players in conference history to earn the ACC Player of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year honors in the same season.

The Mavericks, who traded their star player Luka Doncic in a blockbuster deal last season, have already given the task of being the franchise’s next cornerstone to Flagg. While it is a huge responsibility to be given to a teenager, it seems that Flagg is ready for it. Flagg was ranked 14th in the scoring among the Summer League aspirants.

Though the youngster would have wanted to do more, the Mavs pulled him out for the last three games. In the two summer league games that he played, Flagg averaged 20.5 points, including a 31-point showdown against the San Antonio Spurs.

The 6-foot-8 player is already considered as an ex-factor for the Mavericks. The task of immediately competing with the Mavs and establishing around names such as Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and Kyrie Irving. However, if he picks up from the same place that he left college, it wouldn’t take much time for him to establish himself in the league. Moreover, it would also help the Mavs become one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

Cooper Flagg

Jayson Tatum

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.