Cooper Flagg impresses in Mavericks debut against Lakers in NBA Summer League

Cooper Flagg made a strong impression in his NBA Summer League debut for the Dallas Mavericks against the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas on Thursday.

The highly touted rookie showcased his all-around game, contributing on both ends of the court with confident shooting, smart decision-making, and high-energy defense.

Flagg entered the NBA following a standout freshman year at Duke, where he started all 37 games he played. In his lone college season, he averaged an impressive 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while logging 30 minutes per game on the court, showcasing his versatility and star potential.



Flagg’s Summer League debut at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center was a spectacle from the start. Greeted by thunderous cheers as a starter, Flagg fed off the crowd’s energy despite a shaky beginning - missing his first two shots and picking up a foul just 46 seconds in.


The highlight matchup with Bronny James ignited the crowd early, with James sinking his first shot over Flagg and hitting a three to give the Lakers a 5-0 lead. Flagg responded with a thunderous dunk at the 4:30 mark, scoring the Mavericks’ first points of the game.

He finished the first quarter with six points, one rebound, and a steal. In the second quarter, Flagg nearly brought the arena to its feet with a dazzling spin move and an attempted one-handed slam over 7-footer Christian Koloko, narrowly missing.


At halftime, he had eight points on 4-of-11 shooting, along with three rebounds, two steals, and an assist, thrilling a balanced crowd of Lakers and Mavericks fans.

In 31 minutes and 43 seconds of action, Flagg recorded 10 points on 5-of-21 shooting. Despite struggling from the field, he contributed across the board with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. He also committed just 1 turnover and picked up 2 personal fouls in the game.