Cooper Flagg is having a breakout second season with the Dallas Mavericks, and this week he gave fans two stories at once: a career-high 12 assists in a 37-point win, and a very unusual in-game eating habit that has become the talk of the NBA.
A Career Night Against Brooklyn
Flagg finished Sunday’s 130-93 win over the Brooklyn Nets with 25 points, five rebounds, and a career-high 12 assists, doing it all in just 28 minutes as the Mavericks never trailed. He scored 14 points in the first quarter and had 20 by half-time, then spent the second half setting up his team-mates, dishing out five more assists after the break.
Six different Mavericks scored off Flagg passes on the night, and Dallas finished with 31 assists on 48 field goals. The win moved Dallas to 6-4 and dropped Brooklyn to 2-8, with the 37-point margin the Mavericks’ largest ever against the Nets. It was Flagg’s third straight double-double and his fourth of the season, and he came into the week averaging 24 points, seven assists, and 6.6 rebounds.
Coach Dusty May, who won the national championship at Michigan before Dallas hired him in June, has been full of praise for his young star’s passing, and Flagg is still chasing the first triple-double of his NBA career. He came close as a rookie, finishing with 33 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in a win over Denver last December.
The Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
The quirk that has everyone talking is Flagg’s in-game snack. For the second game in a row, television cameras caught him eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the bench during the action. The first time came during Friday’s 112-100 win over the Utah Jazz, in which he recorded 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.
Asked about it after the Brooklyn game, Flagg explained that he is trying to put on weight and gain muscle. He said he was working with the team’s strength and medical staff to meet his calorie targets, and with another game the next day he was simply trying to stay ahead of it. His recipe is smooth peanut butter and grape jelly, though he also enjoys peanut butter and banana, sometimes with honey.
Flagg entered training camp at a reported 225 pounds, about 20 pounds heavier than the 205 pounds listed during his time at Duke. Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, now working as an analyst, has even weighed in on the sandwich habit.
Three-Point Shooting Still a Work in Progress
Not everything is perfect. Flagg entered Sunday’s game shooting 21.6 percent from three-point range, but he made three of his five attempts against Brooklyn, a welcome sign for a player whose playmaking has been carrying the load while his outside shot catches up. May has said it is too early in the season to judge the team’s shooting numbers, but Flagg himself has been blunt about wanting to improve.
New Balance Deal and What Comes Next
Off the court, Flagg’s star continues to rise. The Mavericks have named New Balance their official footwear and apparel partner in a multi-year agreement with the company that has sponsored Flagg since August 2024. The deal includes co-branded merchandise, community initiatives, and fan activations outside the American Airlines Center.
Dallas next hosts the Indiana Pacers as it looks to build on a strong start, and Flagg’s passing will be worth watching. If he keeps producing nights like this one, the sandwich may become the most famous pre-game meal in the league. For more celebrity and sports news, visit our homepage.