Victor Wembanyama gave Cooper Flagg a reality check in his first-ever NBA game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Cooper Flagg just won Rookie of the Year, as he proved to be the top first-year player over his former Duke teammate, Kon Knueppel. It was a hard-fought win for Flagg, as he had an excellent rookie season, but he also learned a lot of lessons during his first 82-game season.

One of the lessons he learned was during his first-ever NBA regular season game between the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs. He played against the gigantic Victor Wembanyama, who was the player who gave Flagg his Welcome to the NBA moment.

Flagg has become one of the most impressive young players in the league after his rookie season. He was embroiled in a superb Rookie of the Year award race with Knueppel, but he stamped his name on the award with his amazing performances late in the season.

Scoring 50+ points was impressive, but it also showed that he can be a much better offensive player than he is given credit for. Most people see him as a two-way star, but his defense is his biggest strength. However, this rookie year showed that he can be just as good on the offensive side of the game.

MORE: Why Victor Wembanyama is pissed at the NBA after his concussion against the Trail Blazers

A player who also has that kind of skill set is Wembanyama, who is the league's best defender, but he can also be quite dominant on offense. Flagg entered the league as a bright-eyed 18-year-old, so he kind of had a shell-shocking experience during his first NBA game, which was against Wemby and the Spurs.

"Being matched up with Victor was a different experience. He came out dunking from everywhere on the court, hitting step-back threes. It was definitely one of those moments for sure," Flagg said when recalling his first-ever NBA game.

Now that he is Rookie of the Year, Flagg will want to build on this monumental season. He is still a teenager, so he will continue to work hard and help the Mavericks regain their status as one of the best teams in the Western Conference.

Victor Wembanyama's love for the game showcased after his experience with the concussion protocol

De'Aaron Fox calls out the referees for their bizarre whistle during the postseason

Victor Wembanyama reveals the San Antonio Spurs' biggest strength

Cooper Flagg breaks historic records to win the 2026 Rookie of the Year award

The numbers behind Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel's Rookie of the Year race