LAS VEGAS — Cooper Flagg made his skilled debut Thursday evening within the NBA summer season 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-5 from 3-point vary. He additionally had 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. Although Flagg struggled at occasions to seek out his rhythm, there have been flashes as to why he was drafted No. 1 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.
Flagg swatted DJ Steward’s try with 1:10 left within the sport, and Ryan Nembhard made a 3-pointer on the different finish to present Dallas the 87-85 lead.
Flagg strolled into UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Middle at 4:17 p.m. on Thursday, sporting Dallas Mavericks gear, brilliant white New Stability sneakers, and an impassive look on his face as he handed via safety.
Roughly 45 minutes later, he wore the identical stone-cold face as he got here out for warmups shortly after 5 p.m.
His followers greater than made up for it with loads of vitality, electrifying the jam-packed area that cheered loudest when he was introduced as a starter in his first summer season league sport.
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 group what they’d been anticipating, going one-on-one with fellow fan favourite James.
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 group on the 4:30 mark of the primary quarter, jamming dwelling his first factors.
Early within the second quarter, Flagg almost 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 crammed with Lakers followers when the workforce performs in the summertime, the sector was filled with emotion with a justifiable share of Mavericks followers in attendance to see the 2025 nationwide school participant of the yr.
Resembling 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 has been following Flagg since earlier than his Duke days, starting along with his junior yr at Nokomis Regional Excessive College in Newport, Maine.
The 15-year-old who’s in Las Vegas from Seattle for an AAU event mentioned he has been a Mavericks fan for roughly 4 years.
“Much more of a fan now that they obtained Cooper Flagg,” Epple mentioned. “Hopefully he does good, that’d be fairly cool to see. I do not need him to be like a bust or something.”
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd instructed The Related Press earlier than the sport he is searching for nothing greater than effort and grit from his gamers of their opening sport, as he needs all of them taking part in arduous.
“This summer season league is somewhat completely different when you’ve gotten this sort of turnout,” Kidd mentioned. “However the guys have had a pair practices. There’s going to be some turnovers. I simply wish to see how they reply to a few errors being made, nobody’s going to play an ideal sport and be unselfish.”
As for his prize draft choose: “We’re all excited,” Kidd mentioned of Flagg. “Seen sufficient of him on tape, so now it is good to see him on the ground.”