Mavericks-Spurs: 4 takeaways as Victor Wembanyama spoils Cooper Flagg’s debut

DALLAS — They arrived on this night of heavy anticipation to see the future, absorb the hype and fully understand what made him an in-demand No. 1 overall draft pick and designated Flagg bearer for the league. 

And the crowd at American Airlines Center got what they hoped for Wednesday, but not necessarily who they wanted. 

This was a coming-out party, for sure — Victor Wembanyama, No. 1 in 2022, making his early-early case for Kia MVP consideration. 

As for Cooper Flagg, No. 1, 2025? Let’s just say there will be plenty of second chances to make a first impression. 

And as for the game itself, and the initial implications? The Mavericks, coming off a forgettable season that flipped for good on the Luka Dončić trade and Anthony Davis injury, are trying to re-connect the crowd and it didn’t happen, not yet anyway, even with Flagg. 

The Spurs and their young and restless core are trying to get respect and playoff consideration. It began with a season-opening blowout win with positive vibes. 

Here are four takeaways from the easy, breezy 125-92 Spurs win that was richly flavored by Wemby: 

1. That’s a wrap for Wemby, for starters

With 6:42 left in the game, a distinctive chant was heard, and strangely enough, inside a road arena. Rooting interest aside, basketball fans knew what they were seeing, and so they said: M-V-P.

He checked out moments later, after bow-tying a classic performance: 40 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and highlights that a player should never be allowed to make at 7-foot-4 — or is it 7-foot-5? 

Whatever. Wemby was irresistible and unstoppable for 30 minutes, and he wasn’t matched against a slouch. For various stretches, he took on Anthony Davis, one of this generation’s better defensive players, and stole his chain a few times. 

Here were some of the gems: A reverse cradle dunk, a step-back 3-pointer (and subsequent 4-point play), an isolation and between-the-legs dribble on AD for a step-back mid-range and 3-point play (Davis drew a fourth foul on the second-quarter sequence) and a pair of dunks where he beat his man downcourt (took him about five strides to cover that ground). 

Total monster night, made the arena gasp multiple times. 

Is this what the NBA can expect this season from such a freak? 

And if this was indeed a preview, well heck, how lucky are the Spurs, and the NBA as a whole? 

“We needed to make a statement,” said Wemby. “We’re all tired of losing, and that’s the truth.” 

2. Coop was thrown for a loop

He has been the center of attention from the time he entered high school, never flinched along the way, showed amazing maturity as early as 16, and displayed an old-soul style of play.

But when the curtains drew back on his rookie debut, he seemed frozen, especially early. 

The thaw didn’t happen until the second half when the outcome was well out of reach, and Flagg looked a bit more comfortable and in his skin. Good news: 81 more games to go. 

Yet at times, it wasn’t poor, just invisible. 

Flagg finished with four baskets, three turnovers, 10 points (all second half), 10 rebounds and was a minus-29. And he wasn’t nearly the most impressive rookie on the floor. 

That was Dylan Harper of the Spurs, taken second overall, who was poised, steady and smooth. Harper showed a tendency to attack the rim and hang in mid-air while his defender fell to earth. Harper: 15 points (7-for-14 shooting), four rebounds. 

Mavs coach Jason Kidd said: “I thought Cooper played within himself. He took what the defense gave him.” 

Flagg seemed to try to fit in initially before turning aggressive, but by that time, the game was over the Spurs’ starters were on the bench. 

PJ Washington said: “Coop’s gonna be fine.” 

3. Point guard problems for Dallas

There’s a pressing and perplexing problem for the Mavericks that the offseason didn’t satisfactorily address: The need for someone to run the point.

Said Davis: “We were playing a lot of isolation basketball and we’re not going to win games like that.” 

Kyrie Irving is on the mend from knee surgery until … well, nobody quite knows. His case is different than that of two others mending from leg injuries, Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum, because Kyrie has 15 years of tread wear. 

If he misses the entire season, then it’s hard to imagine the Mavericks striking fear into a very unforgiving West. If he returns before the season, how effective will he be, and where will the Mavericks sit in the standings? 

This is an indictment against D’Angelo Russell, the supposed bridge guard until Kyrie’s return, who evidently hasn’t earned the trust of Kidd. Russell didn’t start and played just 15 minutes. 

Ryan Nembhard looked promising in the preseason but is an undrafted rookie and might require more time. The fallback plan by Kidd was to use Flagg for stretches at the point, and the initial results weren’t promising — the Spurs attacked his dribble and forced him to surrender the ball, prematurely at times. He looked unsure, and vulnerable against smaller defenders. 

Kidd admitted his team “didn’t pass the ball … make a play for a teammate.” 

This will handcuff the Mavs until somebody on the roster literally gets a better handle on the situation, or if they frantically search for a temporary replacement before the trade deadline. 

4. No. 1s don’t always have fun

Here are some other rookie debuts by massively celebrated first overall picks:

• Magic Johnson, Lakers, 1979. This took place in San Diego (Clippers) in front of 8,503. Magic was superb with 26 points and fed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the winning sky hook at the buzzer. Magic yelled and jumped into Kareem’s arms before the center gently reminded the rookie that there were 81 games left.
• Ralph Sampson, Rockets, 1983. He missed his first four shots, then settled down against Artis Gilmore and supplied 18 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in the win over the Spurs.
• Patrick Ewing, Knicks, 1985. He had the misfortune of matching up with Moses Malone, a former MVP in his prime. Malone served Ewing a welcome-to-the-league moment with 35 points and 13 rebounds; Ewing had 18 and six.
• Shaquille O’Neal, Magic, 1992. Against the Miami Heat, 12 points, 18 rebounds before fouling out; he attempted just eight shots, lowest of the season and admitted to being nervous. Shaq would average 23.4 points, nearly 14 rebounds and win Rookie of the Year.
• LeBron James, Cavaliers, 2003. Perhaps most of the East (except Cleveland) was asleep when LeBron opened in Sacramento. The 18-year-old had 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds in the loss.
• Zion Williamson, Pelicans, 2019. He started slow but finished strong against the Spurs, with 17 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter. And he played only 18 minutes; difference between then and lately, he was healthy.
• Victor Wembanyama, Spurs, 2023. Much like Wednesday, he was matched against the Mavericks and it was an education — he had five fouls and five turnovers and the Spurs lost by seven. Understandably, it has been all uphill from there.

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA since 1985. You can email him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.