The Dallas Mavericks’ newest star, Cooper Flagg, has already made headlines as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. But as the 18-year-old phenom begins his rookie season, he’s learning that the jump from college basketball to the NBA isn’t just about speed, size, or skill, it’s also about language.
Speaking at his first official NBA Media Day, Flagg admitted that the terminology used in the NBA has been one of the biggest adjustments since leaving Duke.
“It’s different, different terminologies, but it’s all the same thing at the end of the day,” Flagg said. “You just gotta get accustomed to saying different things. I mean, I’m still saying a lot of, sometimes I mess up and say old terminology.”
Flagg explained that while the concepts are familiar, the vocabulary can trip him up.
“I use the Duke stuff sometimes, but at the end of the day, if you say something, it’s better than saying nothing. Just letting your teammate know where you are—just any communication,” he added.
Asked Cooper Flagg about the adjustment to understanding the terminology in the NBA compared to that of college. He said it’s different, but also similar.
“Sometimes I mess up and use old terminology I used at Duke, but if you say something, it’s better than saying nothing.” pic.twitter.com/j7UDe8h9jM
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) September 30, 2025
At Duke, Flagg was the centerpiece of a Final Four run, earning National Player of the Year and National Freshman of the Year honors. His dominance made him the consensus top pick, and Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd described the franchise as “blessed by the basketball God” after landing him.
Now, Flagg joins a veteran-heavy Mavericks roster that includes Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson, giving him the chance to learn from some of the league’s most experienced stars.
Despite the learning curve, Flagg isn’t shying away from expectations. Asked about his goals for the season, he was direct:
“I’d like to be Rookie of the Year. As a team, the goal is obviously to win a championship. But if I stay true to myself and what got me here, the personal goals will work themselves out”.
Flagg’s adjustment to NBA terminology may seem like a small detail, but it highlights the broader challenge of transitioning from college to the pros. Communication is the backbone of team defense and offensive execution, and mastering the Mavericks’ system will be key to his early success.
With his talent, maturity, and ambition, Flagg is already being touted as the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year honors. If he can pair his on-court explosiveness with fluency in the Mavericks’ playbook, Dallas may have found the next face of its franchise.
