Cooper Flagg made his extremely anticipated debut for the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday within the NBA 2K26 Summer time League in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers and Bronny James.
The matchup, which boasted the highest average ticket price for a summer league sport since Victor Wembanyama‘s debut, noticed Flagg rating an enormous dunk for his first factors as a professional. Flagg, the No. 1 choose within the 2025 draft, completed with 10 factors, six rebounds and 4 assists as Dallas bested Los Angeles, 87-85. James completed with eight factors, two rebounds and two assists.
What can we decipher from the No. 1 total choose’s first sport as a Maverick? Our NBA specialists weigh in on total takeaways, his finest second and what a part of his sport made the best influence.
Flagg might be an instantaneous drive for Mavs
There have by no means been any doubts about Flagg’s athleticism. At solely 18 years previous, the 6-foot-8, 220-pound Flagg possesses a prototypical NBA physique and the type of explosive pop that makes a crowd gasp a number of instances per sport.
Mix these bodily presents with Flagg’s full-speed ball dealing with skill and really feel for the sport, and it is easy to see why Mavericks coach Jason Kidd received a vibe of younger Grant Hill when learning the No. 1 choose’s movie.
Flagg ought to be an instantaneous drive as a transition offense weapon. That side of Flagg’s sport was on full show in his first official outing in a Dallas uniform, though he did not discover his groove within the halfcourt offense in opposition to the Lakers.
Flagg’s first bucket was a ferocious tomahawk dunk to complete a one-man quick break that he began with a steal. He pushed the tempo once more on the following possession earlier than hitting a clean baseline fadeaway over the Lakers’ 2024 first-round choose Dalton Knecht. And Flagg delivered a panoramic dime on the Mavs’ following possession, a look-ahead laser from past halfcourt whereas pushing the ball once more. It will not present up within the field rating as a result of Dallas middle Moussa Cisse could not end, but it surely’s not laborious to think about Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford changing that go right into a rim-rattling dunk.
Flagg’s mixture of athleticism and really feel additionally created an important sequence of the night time. He soared to swat away a layup try, pushed the tempo once more and located guard Ryan Nembhard for a wide-open 3 to present the Mavs the lead for good with 59.1 seconds remaining.
It was a tough taking pictures night time for Flagg (5-of-21 from the ground, 0-of-5 on 3s). Nevertheless it was enjoyable to look at him run the break, which he appears able to do as quickly as he steps into the league. — Tim MacMahon
Flagg’s dunk ignites summer time league crowd
The Thomas & Mack Middle crowd was so longing for Thursday’s tip between the Mavericks and Lakers that they mercilessly booed the referees on the finish of the Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder sport previous it. Not that they disagreed with the validity of the take foul referred to as on Brooklyn rookie Ben Saraf within the waning seconds, they only had been fed up with any whistle that may get in the best way of Cooper Flagg lastly taking the ground.
As soon as the sport tipped off, the followers’ gratification for seeing Flagg formally plant his presence within the league was additional delayed.
Flagg’s first official statistic of the summer time league was a missed fadeaway from 12 toes coming 18 seconds into the primary quarter. Lower than 30 seconds later, he was again within the boxscore, this time for fouling Lakers ahead Darius Bazley on the boards.
Practically 30 seconds later, Flagg took his second shot — this time from 3 — and missed once more.
He was nonetheless scoreless when he subbed out for the primary time with 5:38 remaining within the first. However after a fast break, he checked again in. And it occurred. Lakers guard DJ Steward threw a go that Flagg pounced on, swiping it out of the passing lane and powering down in the direction of the opposite finish to complete the fastbreak with a coast-to-coast tomahawk.
The gang received what they got here for, erupting in a roar that echoed by way of the sector.
Flagg completed 5-for-21 from the sector, notching 10 factors, six rebounds and 4 assists in an 87-85 win.
A forgettable line, at finest. However he made a second occur. You always remember your first. — Dave McMenamin
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Kyrie Irving fired up after a Cooper Flagg bucket
Cooper Flagg cashes a step-back jumper, which will get Kyrie Irving on his toes.
Flagg’s manufacturing exterior of the scoresheet
Flagg shot simply 5-for-21 and did not rating within the second half of his summer time league debut. However there is not any purpose to fret about one off taking pictures night time — his promise relies on his skill to stuff the stat sheet in so some ways past scoring.
At Duke, Flagg averaged 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per sport. For context, the one NBA gamers to common related numbers (7-4-1-1) in these classes final season had been do-it-all forwards Scottie Barnes and Jalen Johnson. The gamers in NBA historical past with essentially the most such seasons are Kevin Garnett (10 instances), Giannis Antetokounmpo (8) and Chris Webber (7).
Flagg basically matched his collegiate averages in 32 minutes on Thursday, with six rebounds, 4 assists — he would’ve had extra if his teammates had knocked down extra 3-point makes an attempt after Flagg’s kickout passes — three steals and one block. He additionally tallied only one turnover, regardless of going through heavy ball stress from Lakers defenders.
That every one-around manufacturing is a big a part of Flagg’s attraction, and a purpose for optimism as he enters his rookie marketing campaign for an ostensible contender. Enjoying subsequent to Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, D’Angelo Russell and ultimately Kyrie Irving, Flagg will not want to guide his crew in pictures, as he did on Thursday. However he might be handiest if he is capable of contribute in each different side of the sport — significantly on protection, the place his playmaking potential already has him trying like a game-changer. — Zach Kram
Flagg’s measurement will problem the NBA
Flagg’s measurement was the very first thing that jumped out to me in opposition to NBA opposition. Listed as 6-foot-9, Flagg is projected to begin his profession at small ahead for the enormous Mavericks, who boast a frontcourt of the 6-foot-10 Anthony Davis and the 7-foot-1 Dereck Energetic II.
To open the sport, Flagg was defended by former first-round choose Darius Bazley, nominally the Lakers’ beginning middle at 6-8. That type of cross-matching defensive assignments will not be an choice when he performs alongside Davis and both Energetic or 6-10 Daniel Gafford, who can punish smaller defenders in a manner no one else on Dallas’ summer time roster can.
In opposition to shorter opponents, Flagg’s measurement ought to convey a number of advantages. When he runs pick-and-rolls, Flagg could have clear passing lanes excessive of defenders. That is one thing Kidd inspired Giannis Antetokounmpo to make the most of whereas teaching a younger Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks. He is clearly following an analogous playbook with Flagg.
On the defensive finish, Flagg’s measurement permits him to make spotlight performs as Kram quantified. A 7-foot wingspan, almost as giant as lottery middle choose Derik Queen (7-foot and one-half), means Flagg will continually be a presence in passing lanes.
Ideally, the Mavericks will finally discover a wing stopper, enabling them to deploy Flagg on poor shooters as an energetic assist defender. For now, Dallas may want Flagg to defend the opponent’s finest perimeter menace when P.J. Washington Jr. is on the bench. — Kevin Pelton