January 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cI got a lot of love for V.J.,\u201d said Flagg, whose Mavericks lost their fourth consecutive game. \u201cWe have competed at a really high level against each other for three years now. It\u2019s a lot of love and respect there. He\u2019s a competitor and winner at the highest level. I have a lot of respect for V.J. and what he\u2019s been able to do this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Mavericks chose Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in June. The 76ers snapped Edgecombe up two selections later at No. 3. Paired alongside Tyrese Maxey in the backcourt, Edgecombe has been instrumental in the 76ers\u2019 turnaround. Philadelphia, which finished 34 games under .500 a year ago, is 18-14 after Thursday\u2019s win and has hopes of hosting a first-round playoff series this spring.<\/p>\n
The Mavericks, meanwhile, look like they are headed back to the lottery. They have lost six of their last seven contests. Only two Western Conference teams have more losses than Dallas: the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans, two notoriously dysfunctional franchises.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we just have to stay together,\u201d Flagg said. \u201cCome together. And buy into our principles and get back to playing both sides of the ball at a really high level, and we\u2019ll be OK.\u201d<\/p>\n
Flagg is in the midst of one of the most productive seasons a teenager has ever had in the NBA. But in Dallas\u2019 last two games, the Rookie of the Year hopeful has submitted two inefficient shooting performances. He scored 15 points on 6-of-20 shooting in Monday\u2019s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. On Thursday, he finished with 12 points on 5-of-15 shooting.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s playing extremely well,\u201d Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. \u201cHe\u2019s probably a little tired. He\u2019s played a lot of minutes. This is the most minutes he\u2019s played in his career. \u2026 I thought he found open teammates tonight. We just didn\u2019t knock the (shots) down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Flagg came into Thursday\u2019s game ranked fifth in the NBA in total minutes. The Mavericks expressed optimism during training camp in September that with all the veteran talent on their roster, Flagg might not have to carry such a heavy workload. But Anthony Davis got hurt in the team\u2019s fifth game of the season, suffering a left calf strain that sidelined him for 14 consecutive games.<\/p>\n
And Davis was hurt again<\/a> in Dallas\u2019 Dec. 25 game against the Golden State Warriors. The Mavericks went 0-3 on their West Coast road trip to close out 2025. Davis returned to the lineup Thursday, but he was quiet with 13 points and eight rebounds.<\/p>\nThe Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline is a little more than one month away, and the Mavericks are expected to listen to offers on Davis as it approaches.<\/p>\n
Dallas hoped it could field a winning team in Flagg\u2019s first season, but that hasn\u2019t happened. Improbably, it\u2019s the 76ers who took advantage of their luck in last summer\u2019s lottery and quickly became competitive again.<\/p>\n