André Snellings
André Snellings
ESPN Senior WriterDr. André Snellings is a senior writer for men’s and women’s fantasy basketball and sports betting at ESPN. André has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Michigan. He joined ESPN in 2017 after a 16-year career as a neural engineer, during which time he was also a writer and analyst for Rotowire.
Eric Moody
Eric Moody
ESPN WriterEric Moody is a writer for fantasy football, men’s and women’s basketball, and sports betting at ESPN. Eric joined ESPN in 2021 after working as a senior fantasy analyst at Pro Football Network. Prior to that, he spent much of his career as a manager at a Fortune 100 financial services company.Oct 22, 2025, 08:14 AM ET
The stage is set for Cooper Flagg‘s NBA debut, and this one has the feel of more than a normal regular-season opener.
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All eyes are on Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, as the Dallas Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Given where the odds have settled, what are the best bets to make on the versatile forward out of Duke in his first NBA game against Victor Wembanyama and company?
Here are NBA betting experts André Snellings and Eric Moody with their favorites.
Note: Odds as of publication. For the most up to date odds, visit ESPN BET.
Flagg is a do-everything prospect, but the lineup the team is starting the season with will need him to be a consistent second scoring option behind Anthony Davis. The Mavericks are strong in the paint and have shooters in the backcourt, so they will look to Flagg to be their primary perimeter offense creator with Kyrie Irving sidelined. I expect Flagg to come out aggressive as a scorer in his debut, particularly against a Spurs squad where his 6-foot-9 size is an advantage. The Spurs effectively start three guards, all 6-5 and under. Last season, the Spurs allowed 22.1 PPG to opposing small forwards, tied for 25th in the NBA. — Snellings
Cooper Flagg enters the season as the big favorite to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year. ESPN BET is offering the ability to bet on Flagg or the field .
25+ total points, rebounds and assists (-130)
Few rookies enter the league with more buzz than Flagg, and he’s built to make an instant impact. With Irving sidelined, Flagg should operate as a secondary playmaker and key scoring option next to Davis. His all-around game, including efficient shooting, rebounding and defensive energy, gives him multiple paths to hit 25+ PRA. Facing a fast-paced Spurs team that ranked in the bottom 10 in defense rating last season, Flagg is well positioned to fill the box score in his professional debut. — Moody