By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2026-02-06 12:07:43
2026年2月5日，周四，在达拉斯举行的一场NBA常规赛上半场，达拉斯独行侠前锋库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) (32) 面对圣安东尼奥马刺前锋维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) (1) 突破篮下。(AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
周四晚上，达拉斯独行侠主帅杰森·基德 (Jason Kidd) 只能无奈地看着维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 投进他的第一个三分球。接着，他眼睁睁地看着文班亚马又投进一个，然后又是一个，接连不断。
这位马刺队的明星中锋在三分线外前五次出手全部命中，为这场在美航中心取得的135-123的胜利奠定了基调。基德不需要水晶球也能预见到这一晚的走向。
“看起来他今晚根本不会投丢，”基德说道。
对基德来说，好在独行侠也拥有他们自己的划时代超级巨星。
文班亚马本赛季第二次将独行侠的主场变成了他的个人游乐场，全场砍下29分、11个篮板、6次助攻、2次抢断和3次盖帽。
而这一次，库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 也给出了强力回应。
作为NBA选秀状元，弗拉格在周四展现了他武器库中的所有手段，狂砍32分，延续了联盟历史上最出色的新秀表现之一。
“你可以看到他的信心在增长，”马刺主帅米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 表示。
弗拉格的下一场戏，是在周六带领独行侠前往圣安东尼奥进行二番战，这也将是这位最佳新秀头号热门在霜银中心的首次亮相。
在周四的比赛之前，19岁的弗拉格已经成为NBA历史上第一位连续三场砍下30+的青少年球员：对阵夏洛特拿到49分，对阵休斯敦拿到34分，对阵波士顿拿到36分。
在对阵马刺的比赛后，他在这一纪录上又增加到了连续四场。
凭借这一表现，弗拉格成为了联盟历史上第二位在四场比赛中总得分达到至少150分的新秀，比肩1996-97赛季的艾伦·艾弗森。
“他现在正处于暴走状态，”独行侠前锋纳吉·马绍尔 (Naji Marshall) 说道，他在周四也贡献了32分。
对于弗拉格来说，这与四个月前截然不同。当时，这位前杜克大学的天才球员在对阵文班亚马和马刺的万众瞩目的首秀中表现平平，遭遇了“哑火”。
那一晚，弗拉格13投4中仅得10分，马刺在美航中心以125-92大胜达拉斯。
在自己的第三个NBA揭幕战中，文班亚马的表现与弗拉格的平庸形成鲜明对比，他砍下的40分至今仍是其赛季最高。这位7英尺4英寸的法国人当时还摘下了15个篮板并送出3次盖帽。
文班亚马在周四的表现依旧出色。不同之处在于，弗拉格同样表现优异。
“他在场上看起来自在多了，”马刺后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 说道，“你可以看出他的队友们都在找他。当他们需要得分或者陷入僵局时，他们会把球交给他。”
马刺新秀卡特·布莱恩特 (Carter Bryant) 在去年三月的NCAA锦标赛中，正是因为输给了弗拉格率领的蓝魔队，才结束了他在亚利桑那大学的校园生涯。
他们两人颇有渊源。
布莱恩特将弗拉格从一个初出茅庐的新秀迅速蜕变为真正球星的原因归结为一点。
“是信心，”布莱恩特说，“在这个联盟里，信心这玩意儿简直太TM重要了。”
的确，马刺在周四看到的，以及周六将再次看到的弗拉格，已经不再是他们记忆中赛季揭幕战时的那个弗拉格了。
“这很难，”布莱恩特说，“你刚进联盟，第一场比赛就有斯蒂芬·卡斯尔在你屁股后面紧贴了48分钟。”
在近期这一波砍分潮后，弗拉格在周六的比赛前的场均得分为20.4分。
他有望成为自2023-24赛季的文班亚马以来，首位赛季场均得分达到至少20分的NBA新秀。
“并不意外，”约翰逊在周四赛前说道，“我不认为我们中有人怀疑过他‘是否’能做到，这只是‘何时’做到的问题。”
可以肯定地说，弗拉格已经正式宣告了自己的到来。
仿佛是为了更明确这一点，独行侠本周将全明星中锋安东尼·戴维斯送到了华盛顿，清理了薪资空间并为他们的新秀天才腾出了发展空间。
弗拉格在周四证明了自己值得这样的待遇，即便是在输球的情况下。
他在下半场砍下22分，14投9中，并帮助独行侠在第二节一度落后16分的情况下咬住了比分。
当然，弗拉格的崛起已经引起了某个西南赛区对手的注意，他和独行侠在未来的某个时刻必须跨过这道坎。
“他不是一个容易防守的家伙，”文班亚马评价道，“也不是一个容易在他头上得分的家伙。”
至少，弗拉格证明了自己是一个善于学习的人。
在周四上半场的一次突破被文班亚马封盖后，弗拉格在下半场利用各种跳投和灵巧的抛投来完成得分。
“显然，他是我们今年没见过的那种球员，”弗拉格说道，“很难去模拟他的防守，所以感觉很不一样。你必须出手，而且出手要快，因为他每一次都会冲过来封盖。”
弗拉格近期连续30+表现中唯一的瑕疵是什么？那就是这些比赛最终都以失利告终。
尽管他们的新秀表现卓越，但独行侠目前的总战绩仅为19胜32负。
这种感觉文班亚马再清楚不过了，他在职业生涯的前两个赛季分别只拿到了22胜和34胜，直到本赛季马刺才以35胜16负取得了突破。
“我想事实是，你不能让所有事情瞬间发生，”文班亚马说道，“胜利终会到来。你必须信任球队。与此同时，你要尽你所能做好每一件事。”
弗拉格在周四已经倾尽所有。但这还不够。
达拉斯最迫切的希望是，在未来的某一天，这会变得足够。
Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, left, and forward Cooper Flagg (32) talk in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) prepares to defend in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) tries to get past San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) tries to get past San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) dribbles against San Antonio Spurs guard Jordan McLaughlin (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：The NBA's hottest rookie Cooper Flagg heading to the Frost Bank Center
The NBA’s hottest rookie Cooper Flagg heading to the Frost Bank Center
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Dallas coach Jason Kidd watched helplessly as Victor Wembanyama threw in his first 3-pointer Thursday night. Then he watched as Wembanyama threw in another. And another. And another and another.
The Spurs’ All-Star center made his first five attempts from deep, setting the tone for a 135-123 victory at the American Airlines Center. Kidd didn’t need a crystal ball to see where this night was headed.
“It looked like he wasn’t going to miss,” Kidd said.
Fortunately for Kidd, the Mavericks have a generational superstar of their own.
For the second time this season, Wembanyama transformed the Mavericks’ home arena into his personal playground, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, two steals and three blocks.
This time, Cooper Flagg came to play, too.
The NBA’s No. 1 overall draft pick, Flagg unleashed the full gamut of his arsenal Thursday, pouring in 32 points to continue one of the best rookie runs in league annals.
“You can see his confidence growing,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson.
For his next trick, Flagg brings the Mavericks to San Antonio on Saturday for a rematch, in what will mark the presumptive Rookie of the Year frontrunner’s Frost Bank Center debut.
Coming into Thursday, the 19-year-old Flagg was already the first teenager in NBA history to post three consecutive 30-point games: 49 against Charlotte, 34 against Houston and 36 against Boston.
He added a fourth in a row to that ledger against the Spurs.
In doing so, Flagg became only the second rookie in league annals to total at least 150 points in a four-game span, joining Allen Iverson in 1996-97.
“He’s on a rampage right now,” said Mavs forward Naji Marshall, who also scored 32 points Thursday.
For Flagg, it was a far cry from four months ago, when the former Duke prodigy opened his highly anticipated career with something of a dud against Wembanyama and the Spurs.
Flagg went 4-of-13 for 10 points that night, as the Spurs pounded Dallas 125-92 at the American Airlines Center.
In his third NBA opener, Wembanyama was as spectacular as Flagg was ordinary, with a 40-point outing that remains his season high. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman also logged 15 rebounds and three blocks.
Wembanyama was good again Thursday. The difference this time was, so was Flagg.
“He looks a lot more comfortable out there,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said. “You can tell his teammates are looking for him. When they need something and they don’t have anything, they’re looking.”
Spurs rookie Carter Bryant had his college career at Arizona ended against Flagg and the Blue Devils in the NCAA tournament last March.
They have a history.
Bryant attributes Flagg’s rapid ascension from wet-behind-the-ears rookie to bona fide star to one thing.
“It’s confidence,” Bryant said. “In this league, confidence is a mother(bleeper).”
Indeed, the Flagg the Spurs saw Thursday and will see again Saturday isn’t the same Flagg the Spurs remember from the season opener.
“It’s tough,” Bryant said. “You come into the league, and your first game you have Steph Castle up your (rear) for 48 minutes.”
After his recent scoring barrage, Flagg comes into Saturday’s contest averaging 20.4 points.
He is on pace to become the first NBA rookie to average at least 20 in a season since Wembanyama in 2023-24.
“Not surprised,” Johnson said before Thursday’s meeting. “I don’t think any of us were wondering ‘if.’ It was a matter of ‘when.’”
It’s safe to say Flagg has officially arrived.
As if to make that clearer, the Mavs dealt All-Star center Anthony Davis to Washington this week, clearing the books and the runway to build around their new rookie phenom.
Flagg proved worthy Thursday, even in defeat.
He scored 22 of his points in the second half, making 9 of 14 field goals, and helped the Mavericks hang in a game they trailed by as many as 16 points in the second quarter.
Certainly, Flagg’s rise has caught the attention of a certain Southwest Division rival he and the Mavs will have to fight their way past at some point.
“He’s not an easy guy to guard,” Wembanyama said, “and not an easy guy to score on either.”
If nothing else, Flagg has proven to be a ready learner.
After having a drive blocked by Wembanyama in the first half Thursday, Flagg resorted to an array of jump shots and nifty floaters to get his baskets in the second half.
“Obviously, he’s something that we haven’t seen much of this year,” Flagg said. “It’s hard to emulate that, so it’s different. You’ve got get your shot up and get it up quick, because he’s coming to block it every time.”
The only blemish on Flagg’s recent streak of 30-point games? They have all come in defeat.
The Mavericks are 19-32 overall, despite their rookie’s run of excellence.
It is a feeling Wembanyama knows well, after opening his career with 22- and 34-win campaigns before the Spurs’ 35-16 breakthrough this season.
“I think the truth is you can’t make everything happen just like that,” Wembanyama said. “Winning, it’s going to come. You have to trust the organization. In the meantime, you try to do everything you can.”
Flagg did everything he could Thursday. It wasn’t enough.
The driving hope in Dallas is that someday it will be.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News