Brian Windhorst details Cooper Flagg’s exchange with Derrick Quinn

Dallas Mavericks newcomer Cooper Flagg had a heated moment with a former high school teammate and current one New Orleans Pelicans center Derrick Queen follows A 101–99 loss on Wednesdayaccording to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on the latest episode of The Hoop Collective.

The exchange came after Flag missed a potential tying floater in the final seconds of regulation. Windhorst described Flagg’s reaction as “furious,” noting that the 18-year-old forward was visibly frustrated by both the result and Quinn’s perceived gesture.

“Even though they didn’t run anything down the stretch, they ended up having a chance to send the game into overtime,” Windhorst said. “Cooper missed it and he was furious. This is the only thing I know about Cooper Flagg. He’s a crazy competitor. He was furious that he missed that shot.”

Quinn, who played with Flagg at Montverde Academy in Orlando two years ago, approached his former teammate after a lapse in what Windhorst described as a timeless display of sportsmanship — or possible mockery.

“Derrick Quinn was his teammate … He comes in and he’s like, you know, what people do, they rub shoulders,” Windhorst continued. “But Cooper Flagg didn’t want anyone in the world touching him right now. And he certainly didn’t want a guy from the other team touching him, even if it was his high school teammate.”

Cooper Flagg’s reaction to Derrick Quinn’s gesture highlights his advantage in the Mavericks’ tough loss

Windhorst said Flagg’s competitive fire was evident in the emotional reaction, suggesting that had it been a different era, the conflict might have escalated physically.

“He’s coming in, he just missed the last shot. And this fourth quarter was a c— Mavericks offense. And he’s rubbing his shoulder … Seriously, Cooper might have hit him. If this was 1975 instead of 2025, Cooper might have given it to him.”

Flagg averaged 14.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game in his rookie campaign, but shooting struggles continue to affect his effectiveness. Through eight games, he is shooting 39.4% from the field and 29% from three while playing 33 minutes a night.

Quinn, meanwhile, is contributing off the bench for New Orleans, averaging 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 46.9% from the field in 18.6 minutes over the same span.

With a loss, Dallas fell to 2-6 on the season and extended the losing streak to three games. The Mavericks will now begin a two-game road trip, starting with a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies (3-6) on Friday at 8:00 PM ET, followed by a Saturday night contest against the Washington Wizards (1-7).

The Pelicans improved to 2–6 and will aim to extend their winning streak as they continue their three-game road trip. They face the San Antonio Spurs (5–2) on Saturday at 8:00 PM ET and the Phoenix Suns (4–5) on Monday at 9:00 PM ET.

Flagg-Queen’s moment may not have changed the standings, but it highlighted the rookie forward’s intensity — and underscored that his competitive edge remains a defining part of his game.