Cooper Flagg Eats PB&J Mid-Game as Mavericks Beat Nets
The second-year forward consumes a smooth peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich during the fourth quarter to maintain energy, a habit that has now spanned two straight wins.
By Abigail Brooks ·
Cooper Flagg sat on the Dallas Mavericks bench in a warmup jacket during the fourth quarter against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. He pulled a small plastic bag from his gear, unwrapped a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and took a bite. The team's television broadcast captured the moment, prompting former guard Derek Harper to remark, "Boy, that looks good right now."
This was the second consecutive game that Flagg consumed a sandwich during active play. On Friday, he ate a similar snack during a 112-100 victory over the Utah Jazz. In that game, Flagg recorded 21 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. On Sunday, he posted 25 points and a career-high 12 assists in the 130-93 win over Brooklyn.
Flagg explained that he is attempting to gain weight and muscle mass, which requires consistent caloric intake. "So those requirements I got to meet. I'm just trying to stay ahead of it," he said. "We got another game [Monday]. So just trying to get my calories and stay ahead of it and be ready for another one [Monday]."
The player specified his preference for smooth peanut butter and grape jelly. He also enjoys variations with banana and honey. Teammate Daniel Gafford, who sat beside Flagg during the postgame press conference, expressed mixed feelings about the fruit-based option. "That one I understand: peanut butter, banana and honey. But I don't know about just [peanut butter and banana]," Gafford said.
Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, serving as an analyst for Amazon Prime, defended the habit. He noted that athletes sometimes need a sugar hit to sustain performance on the court. The Mavericks appear to support Flagg's routine, as he is currently in a strong stretch. On Monday, he recorded 43 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in a 125-122 win against the Indiana Pacers.
Flagg noted that he often forgets to bring his snack to the press conference after a game. "I was supposed to bring the peanut butter and jelly. Just know, I was supposed to have a peanut butter and jelly. So I'm going to have one, but it was supposed to be this thing," he said. The tradition of eating the sandwich predates Flagg, tracing back to Kevin Garnett in December 2007, but Flagg is distinct for eating it during the game.
