The No. 1 pick scored 11+4+3! Showing all-round skills, but 5 mistakes were too eye-catching. Is this a waste of time?

The No. 1 pick couldn’t cover up 5 mistakes with 11+4+3. Is this a growing pain or a warning of failure?

In the preseason match between the Mavericks and the Hornets, the performance of the 2025 No. 1 pick Flagg was like a double-sided prism, which not only reflected the light of all-round talent, but also exposed the rookie's shortcomings. He played 22 minutes in the game and handed over comprehensive statistics of 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, but along with 5 dazzling mistakes, the discussion of "whether the No. 1 pick is good" quietly started.

In the first quarter of the game, Flagg responded to expectations with his performance. After a pick-and-roll, he accurately distributed the ball to help his teammates make a layup, and then completed a steal on the defensive end to initiate a fast break, using his iconic passing vision to show the value of the series. The second quarter was his highlight moment. First, he received a pass from his teammate and hit an open three-pointer. Then he broke through the ball and made tip-ins under the basket. He contributed 7 points in a single quarter, and his plus-minus value once reached +9, which perfectly fits the requirements of Kidd's "positionless basketball" system.

But behind the all-around performance, mistakes are always a problem. At the end of the first quarter, he was intercepted and counterattacked twice by his opponent because of his excessive dribbling weight. In the third quarter, when he tried to pass the "magic ball", he made consecutive mistakes because he underestimated the speed of the defensive rotation. Of the 5 turnovers in the game, 3 came from errors in passing decisions, and 2 came from insufficient ball protection during confrontations with the ball. This is exactly the same as the stability problem he exposed in the summer league.

After the game, head coach Kidd's evaluation was objective and pertinent: "It is rare for an 18-year-old to be able to balance scoring and organization. He is taking the initiative to assume the responsibility for the ball. Mistakes are the only way to adapt to the intensity." In terms of statistics, Flagg can contribute 18 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5 assists every 36 minutes. His versatility is far higher than that of rookies in the same period. However, his turnover rate is 18% higher than the league average for the same position. Confrontation and adaptation are still a core issue.

Looking at the history of the league, Duncan as a rookie made 4 turnovers in a single game in the preseason, and Wenban Yama also had 4 turnovers in the half. The high initial turnover rate is not an obstacle to the growth of superstars. For Flagg, reducing blind passing and strengthening core strength training to improve ball control stability under confrontation will be the next key.

This performance of "both flaws and flaws" is more like a necessary test for the growth of the number one pick. Instead of crying "lost", it is better to hope that he will turn trial and error into experience - after all, a newcomer who can show all-around attributes under pressure is far more worthy of expectation than a mediocre player who makes zero mistakes.