Dallas Mavericks ahead Cooper Flagg (32) appears on throughout the second half of an NBA summer season league basketball recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Picture/David Becker)
LAS VEGAS — Cooper Flagg made his skilled debut Thursday evening within the NBA Summer time League and celebrated an 87-85 win over Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Flagg completed with 10 factors on 5-for-21 taking pictures, together with 0 for five from 3-point vary. He additionally had six rebounds, 4 assists, three steals and one block. Although Flagg struggled at instances to search out his groove, there have been flashes as to why he was chosen No. 1 general final month, doing loads of little issues that helped the Mavericks seal the win, together with a key block close to the top of the sport.
READ: NBA: Cooper Flagg appears snug in Dallas
Flagg swatted DJ Steward’s try with 1:10 left within the recreation, and Ryan Nembhard made a 3-pointer on the different finish to present Dallas the 87-85 lead.
“I couldn’t actually get right into a rhythm, it’s a special atmosphere, clearly very completely different from faculty, it’s in all probability very completely different from what the actual NBA is gonna be like,” Flagg mentioned after the sport. “The coaches had a variety of confidence in me. They’ve been telling me they need me to experiment, attempt some new issues, and I used to be making an attempt to be aggressive, and that’s new for me too.
Dallas Mavericks ahead Cooper Flagg (32) drives the ball in opposition to Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) throughout the first half of an NBA summer season league basketball recreation Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Picture/David Becker)
“I’d say that is perhaps one of many worst video games in my life, however we received the win, that’s what actually issues to me.”
Flagg strolled into UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Heart at 4:17 p.m. on Thursday, sporting Dallas Mavericks gear, vivid white New Stability sneakers, and an impassive look on his face as he handed via safety.
READ: NBA Summer time League opens in Vegas with Flagg vs. Bronny duel
Roughly 45 minutes later, he wore the identical stone-cold face as he got here out for warmups shortly after 5 p.m.
“I used to be clearly a little bit nervous, it’s a brand new atmosphere, a variety of new followers and whatnot,” Flagg mentioned. “So I used to be a little bit nervous, a little bit excited, however simply glad to be right here. It’s a dream come true, so I’m simply making an attempt to benefit from the second.”
His followers greater than made up for it with loads of power, electrifying the jam-packed area that cheered loudest when he was introduced as a starter in his first Summer time League recreation.
Flagg missed his first two makes an attempt of the sport, picked up his first foul simply 46 seconds into the sport, and gave the gang what they’d been anticipating, going one-on-one with fellow fan favourite James.
READ: Cooper Flagg chosen by Mavericks as No. 1 choose in 2025 NBA draft
James buried his first try over Flagg, after which hit a 3-pointer after the 6-foot-8 Duke product missed his second try to present the Lakers a 5-0 lead.
Flagg excited the gang on the 4:30 mark of the primary quarter, jamming dwelling his first factors.
Early within the second quarter, Flagg practically despatched each fan within the constructing right into a frenzy when he made a spin transfer into the paint and tried a one-handed slam dunk over 7-foot Christian Koloko. The ball caromed off the again of the rim and nonetheless drew loads of oohs and ahhs.
Typically stuffed with Lakers followers when the crew performs in the summertime, the sector was filled with emotion with a fair proportion of Mavericks followers in attendance to see the 2025 Nationwide faculty participant of the yr.
Like 15-year-old Baer Epple, 15, who was seated along with his father Chad within the third row from the court docket, donning Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks jersey.
Epple mentioned he’s been following Flagg since earlier than his Duke days, starting along with his junior yr at Nokomis Regional Excessive Faculty in Newport, Maine.
The 15-year-old who’s in Las Vegas from Seattle for an AAU match mentioned he’s been a Mavericks fan for roughly 4 years.
“Much more of a fan now that they received Cooper Flagg,” Epple mentioned. “Hopefully he does good, that’d be fairly cool to see. I don’t need him to be like a bust or something.”
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd instructed The Related Press earlier than the sport he was in search of nothing greater than effort and grit in his crew’s opening recreation, as he wished all of them taking part in laborious.
“This summer season league is a little bit completely different when you’ve such a turnout,” Kidd mentioned. “However the guys have had a pair practices. There’s going to be some turnovers. I simply need to see how they reply to a few errors being made, nobody’s gonna play an ideal recreation and be unselfish.”
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As for his prize draft choose: “We’re all excited,” Kidd mentioned of Flagg. “Seen sufficient of him on tape, so now it’s good to see him on the ground.”
