Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday dunked on Cooper Flagg’s debut, shot over it and dribbled around it in a reminder of what was missing in the final two months of the French star’s second NBA season.
Wembanyama wowed the Dallas crowd, and had a noisy San Antonio contingent chanting “MVP, MVP” in their season opener, getting 40 points and 15 rebounds in the Spurs’ 125-92 rout of the Mavericks.
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, was the talk of the Dallas opener going in. Coming out, the talk was Wembanyama, who offered quite the reminder that he was the top overall choice just two years ago.
Photo: Kevin Jairaj / Imagn Images
The 2.23m sensation was playing in the NBA regular season for the first time since deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot condition in his shoulder, required surgery and limited him to 46 games.
“I think we all knew he was going to be assertive,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “He’s been out eight months. He’s been waiting for this probably longer and more thorough than anybody else. You saw him take the moment and play spectacular.”
Flagg scored for the Spurs before he scored for himself, getting called for goaltending in the second quarter. His first bucket finally came on the first possession of the second half as the 18-year-old former Duke Blue Devils star finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Photo: Kevin Jairaj / Imagn Images
Flagg is the second-youngest player to start in his debut, two days older than LeBron James was 22 years ago.
“He’s still a rookie,” said 13-year veteran Anthony Davis, who opened his first full season with the Mavericks after arriving from the Los Angeles Lakers in the Luka Doncic trade in February. “I’m not sure he’s a social media guy or not, but everything was No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg and Wemby matchup. So you’re hearing it. I’m not sure if it got to him, but it’s first-game jitters when it’s time for the real thing.”
Flagg did not even attempt a shot in the last 22 minutes of the first half after putting up a pair in the opening two minutes, including a near-dunk on a fast break alley-oop from Davis. The ball started to go down, but came back out.
Photo: Kevin Jairaj / Imagn Images
He hit a jumper from the free-throw line for his first points and hit a tough fadeaway for his second bucket. Flagg was four of 13 from the field and had three turnovers.
“I was excited, but I’m excited to go on,” Flagg said. “Obviously, it hurts, the first loss being like that. Try to look forward to the next one, turn the page and get ready. We know we’ve got a lot better than that. Staying positive and staying ready.”
Wembanyama was downright dominant.
Photo: AFP
Last year’s Rookie of the Year keyed a 13-0 run late in the first half when he pump-faked out of a double-team and was fouled by Davis on his way to a reverse dunk. At that point, he already had a flying one-handed jam and a reverse slam on an alley-oop.
Wembanyama had seven of San Antonio’s 12 dunks as the Spurs outscored the Mavericks 68-26 in the paint and outshot Dallas 58 percent to 37 percent.
Wembanyama was 15 of 21 from the field and had three blocks.
“We needed to make a statement in the locker room. I feel like I needed to make a statement to my teammates,” Wembanyama said. “It’s also just the beginning because there’s so much more I want to add to my game. Some things take time and maturity.”
Elsewhere on Wednesday, it was:
‧ Bucks 133, Wizards 120
‧ Bulls 115, Pistons 111
‧ Celtics 116, 76ers 117
‧ Grizzlies 128, Pelicans 122
‧ Hawks 118, Raptors 138
‧ Hornets 136, Nets 117
‧ Jazz 129, Clippers 108
‧ Knicks 119, Cavaliers 111
‧ Magic 125, Heat 121
‧ Suns 120, Kings 116
‧ Trail Blazers 114, T’wolves 118
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