Sports

Mavericks' Cooper Flagg reveals his feelings on the dunk contest

January 9, 2026

Story byBilly HeyenFri, January 9, 2026 at 5:40 PM UTC·1 min readMavericks' Cooper Flagg reveals his feelings on the dunk contest originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. Cooper Flagg has long been an impressive dunker. But from the moment he detonated on the fastbreak right over a Pitt defender in his lone season at Duke, Flagg's forays down the lane have become must-see TV. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe has carried those slams into the NBA, where he takes off frequently to throw it down for the Dallas Mavericks after being the No.

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1 pick in the draft. Certainly seems like a guy that could win a dunk contest, right?Well, maybe not.
Flagg doesn't see himself taking part anytime soon.“I’m more of an in-game dunker,” Flagg said, via the Mavs' official website.
“Never say never, but I don’t know if I can really compete.”MORE: How the Sacramento Kings have reinvented tankingFlagg's fans would beg to differ.
As long as he had someone creative in his corner, Flagg could surely put together an impressive array of dunks in a contest. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe does seem to gain a special energy by surging down the lane toward a defender, though.
Some guys truly are just better with that in-game adrenaline. This topic came up for Flagg because he was the only rookie among 40 players who received votes in the second round of fan voting for the All-Star Game. Flagg has been as advertised as a rookie.

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Mavericks' Cooper Flagg reveals his feelings on the dunk contest

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Mavericks' Cooper Flagg reveals his feelings on the dunk contest

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