Cooper Flagg’s Competitive Fire Boils Over in Heated Postgame Moment with Former Teammate Derik Queen

The Dallas Mavericks’ difficult start to the season took another emotional turn Wednesday night when rookie forward Cooper Flagg clashed with former Montverde Academy teammate Derik Queen following a 101–99 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. The exchange occurred moments after Flagg missed a floater that would have sent the game into overtime — a miss that clearly stung the 18-year-old phenom.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective, Flagg’s reaction was “furious” and reflected his frustration with both his missed shot and the Mavericks’ late-game execution. “Even though they ran nothing down the stretch, they ended up with a chance to send the game to overtime,” Windhorst said. “Cooper missed it and he was furious. He’s a crazy competitor.”

The emotional display underscored the mounting pressure on both Flagg and the Mavericks, who fell to 2–6 on the season and continue to search for consistency on offense. Despite showing flashes of brilliance early in his rookie campaign, Flagg’s competitive edge has occasionally surfaced in raw, unfiltered moments — this one broadcast for all to see.

It was in that emotionally charged setting that Queen approached his former teammate — and unintentionally added fuel to the fire. What might have been intended as friendly reassurance instead became a moment of tension between two young players now competing on opposite sides.

1. A Misread Gesture Sparks Postgame Tension

Derik Queen, who played alongside Flagg at Montverde Academy two years ago, attempted to console his former teammate after the miss. According to Windhorst, Queen gave Flagg a light shoulder rub — a gesture of familiarity that was poorly timed given Flagg’s visible frustration. “Derik Queen was his teammate… He comes up and he’s like, you know, that thing people do, they do the shoulder rub,” Windhorst said. “But Cooper Flagg did not want to be touched by anybody in the world in this moment. And he sure didn’t want to be touched by the guy on the other team.” Observers described the moment as brief but tense. Flagg reportedly brushed off the interaction and walked straight toward the locker room without speaking further, leaving Queen momentarily confused on the court. Windhorst added that the intensity of the exchange reflected Flagg’s unwavering drive to win. “If this was 1975 instead of 2025, Cooper might’ve given it to him,” he joked, emphasizing that the rookie’s competitive streak is already earning him a reputation as one of the NBA’s most fiery young players.

2. Flagg’s Early Struggles and Growth

Despite his passion, Flagg’s first few weeks in the league have come with expected growing pains. Through eight games, he’s averaging 14.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game — solid numbers for a first-year player — but his shooting efficiency remains a concern. He’s converting 39.4% from the field and just 29% from three-point range. Dallas has struggled to build chemistry on offense without key players like Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, both sidelined by injuries. The Mavericks currently hold the NBA’s lowest offensive rating (103.5) through eight games, relying heavily on Flagg’s developing playmaking and energy. Still, the rookie’s intensity has been one of the few bright spots for Dallas. Teammates and coaches have praised his work ethic and competitiveness, qualities that were on full display in Wednesday’s loss — even if they momentarily boiled over. Flagg’s outburst, while uncharacteristic for a player so early in his career, may ultimately serve as a learning moment as he adapts to the emotional swings of an 82-game season. Balancing passion with composure will be key to his long-term success in the league.

3. Moving Forward Amid Early Season Struggles

With Wednesday’s defeat, the Mavericks extended their losing streak to three games and dropped to 2–6 on the season. They’ll now head on a two-game road trip beginning Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies (3–6) before facing the Washington Wizards (1–7) on Saturday night. The Pelicans, meanwhile, improved to 2–6 and will look to build momentum as they continue their three-game road trip. Queen has been an active contributor off the bench for New Orleans, averaging 8.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in 18.6 minutes per game. For Dallas, the hope is that Flagg’s frustration fuels improvement rather than lingers as distraction. His emotional response may have caught attention, but it also underscored the same competitiveness that made him the No. 1 overall pick — and a cornerstone of the Mavericks’ rebuild. The incident, while minor in the grand scheme, offered a glimpse of Flagg’s relentless mindset and desire to shoulder responsibility even amid early challenges. As Dallas continues its search for stability, that fire could prove invaluable.