4 Major observations from Cooper Flagg's electric Mavericks debut against Thunder

Cooper Flagg made his NBA debut tonight for the Dallas Mavericks in their preseason opener in Fort Worth at Dickies Arena against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he didn't disappoint. Before the game, Jason Kidd said that he would only play in the first half, and he made his impact felt quickly and had the arena on its feet in this rivalry matchup against the former NBA champions.

Flagg finished with 10 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one block while shooting 3-6 from the field and 2-3 from downtown while helping the Mavs get out to a 66-40 lead at the end of the first half, and he quickly proved that he is going to be a monster on day one. Mavericks fans were locked in on him for all 14 minutes that he played against Oklahoma City, and his performance on both ends of the floor deserves plenty of credit.

He was even better than NBA fans could've imagined, and he laid the perfect foundation to continue this high level of play into the rest of the preseason and into the regular season.

Major observations from Cooper Flagg's preseason debut

Flagg handled any and all pressure that was put upon him valiantly, and he is ready to take the NBA by storm as an 18-year-old rookie.

His somewhat slow start as a scorer was quickly erased by some tough buckets in the second quarter, and there isn't a single hole in his game.

Flagg's defense is already elite

Flagg's defense was the No. 1 thing that the media has been raving about for years, and he didn't disappoint in his Mavs debut. He blocked one shot within minutes of the game starting, and his expertise in this area was obvious from the opening tip.

Flagg recorded his first block with a rejection on Isaiah Joe on one of his drives to the bucket, and this helped lead to a dunk for Anthony Davis on the other end. A few minutes later, Brooks Barnhizer tested Flagg, but he didn't even attempt the mid-range jumper, and the shot clock expired.

He is clearly going to be a menace off the ball right away, as opponents fear him and think twice before shooting a shot when he is in their vicinity. This is a similar off-ball impact to that of Dereck Lively II and Anthony Davis, as they alter everything and always have to be accounted for, and his defense is what will make him a star on day one.

Flagg is calm and collected as a decision-maker

Before Summer League, Jason Kidd made it clear that he wanted Flagg to handle the ball often, and while his role as a point guard from Las Vegas didn't continue as much into the preseason, he looked comfortable when the rock was in his hands and made the right play every single time.

Flagg and Lively II were the only two Mavericks starters who didn't record a turnover in the first half, and he made plenty of nice feeds that had the arena on its feet.

It didn't take him long to rack up a couple of assists in the first quarter, as he found Lively II and Dwight Powell for dunks early into the game, and he wasn't affected by airtight on-ball defense. This is a great sign for him, especially if he handles the ball often as a rookie, and he already looks like he's going to be a top playmaker on the team.

Flagg's passing is easily one of the more underrated parts of his game, and his ability to make reads quickly looks promising. He also played unselfishly and never refrained from making an extra pass when needed.

Flagg's 3-point shooting won't be a concern

Mavericks fans were slightly concerned with Flagg's 3-point shooting during NBA Summer League after he shot 3-14 from three over two games, but his Mavs debut showed that he is ready to be a reliable shooter at the next level.

He shot 2-3 from three in this game against Oklahoma City, with both shots being from the wing off the dribble. Flagg looked fearless when letting it fly on both attempts, and he could end up being more deadly from downtown than anyone realizes.

His poise in all aspects of his game was evident, and this helped lead him to a productive night shooting the rock from long range.

Flagg is a great teammate

Flagg's personality was raved about during the entire pre-draft process, as he is a relentless worker and does all of the little things, and he shone as a teammate during his first game.

He was always one of the first few players up and out of their seats after a teammate scored a bucket while he was on the bench, and he wants to see everyone around him succeed.

Mavericks culture is a real thing, and after observing Flagg up close and personal in his preseason debut, he looks like he'll be a dream fit in this. Dallas ended up getting a 106-89 win over OKC in this one, and the future looks bright for the new-look squad.