Cooper Flagg`s highly anticipated debut for the Dallas Mavericks occurred on Thursday during the NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas, facing off against the Los Angeles Lakers, featuring Bronny James.
This game drew significant attention, reflected in the highest average ticket price for a summer league game since Victor Wembanyama`s debut. Flagg marked his professional start with a spectacular dunk. As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft, Flagg`s final stats were 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in Dallas` 87-85 victory over Los Angeles. James contributed 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.
What key insights can be gathered from Flagg`s initial game as a Maverick? NBA experts offer their perspectives on significant takeaways, his standout moment, and the most impactful aspect of his performance.
Flagg`s Potential Immediate Impact for the Mavericks
Cooper Flagg`s capabilities have always been clear. At just 18 years old, standing 6-foot-8 and weighing 220 pounds, he possesses the ideal NBA physique and the kind of explosive athleticism that frequently excites the crowd.
Combining these physical attributes with Flagg`s ability to handle the ball at full speed and his excellent court awareness, it`s understandable why Mavericks coach Jason Kidd felt reminded of a young Grant Hill when reviewing the top pick`s highlights.
Flagg is expected to be an immediate asset, especially as a weapon in transition offense. This strength was clearly demonstrated in his first official game for Dallas, although he struggled to find his rhythm in the half-court offense against the Lakers.
Flagg`s initial points came from a powerful tomahawk dunk, completing a solo fast break initiated by his own steal. He accelerated the pace on the subsequent possession, executing a smooth baseline fadeaway over the Lakers` 2024 first-round pick, Dalton Knecht. Flagg then delivered an impressive assist on the following play – a quick, accurate pass from beyond half-court while pushing the ball forward. Although it didn`t register in the box score because Dallas center Moussa Cisse failed to finish, it`s easy to envision Dereck Lively II or Daniel Gafford converting such a pass into a forceful dunk.
Flagg`s blend of skill and instinct also led to the game`s most crucial play. He leaped to block a layup attempt, again pushed the ball quickly, and then found guard Ryan Nembhard for an open three-pointer, giving the Mavericks a lead they would hold for the rest of the game with 59.1 seconds remaining.
Despite a challenging shooting performance (5-of-21 overall, including 0-of-5 from beyond the arc), it was exciting to see him lead the fast break, a role he appears ready to take on immediately in the league.
Cooper Flagg`s Dunk Electrifies Summer League Crowd
The crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center was so eager for Thursday`s Mavericks-Lakers tip-off that they audibly booed the referees towards the end of the preceding Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder game. This wasn`t necessarily a disagreement with the foul calls, but rather impatience for anything delaying Flagg`s appearance on the court.
Once the game began, the fans` anticipation for seeing Flagg officially start his professional career was further prolonged.
Flagg`s first official statistic in the summer league was a missed 12-foot fadeaway just 18 seconds into the first quarter. Within another 30 seconds, he registered again in the box score, this time for fouling Lakers forward Darius Bazley while rebounding.
Approximately 30 seconds later, Flagg attempted his second shot, a three-pointer, which also missed.
He remained scoreless when he was first substituted out with 5:38 left in the first quarter. After a brief rest, he returned. And then it happened: Lakers guard DJ Steward threw a pass that Flagg intercepted, snatching it from the passing lane and driving the length of the court to complete a fast break with a coast-to-coast tomahawk dunk.
The crowd erupted in a roar that reverberated through the arena, having finally witnessed the moment they anticipated.
Flagg ended the game shooting 5-for-21, accumulating 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
While the stat line might seem unremarkable, he delivered a memorable moment. As the saying goes, you never forget your first.
Flagg`s Contribution Beyond Scoring
Flagg struggled with his shot, missing 16 of 21 attempts and not scoring in the second half of his summer league debut. However, there`s no cause for concern over a single poor shooting performance; his potential is based on his capability to contribute significantly to the stat sheet in numerous areas beyond just scoring.
At Duke, Flagg averaged 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks. To provide context, the only NBA players last season to achieve similar averages (at least 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) were versatile forwards Scottie Barnes and Jalen Johnson. Historically, the NBA players with the most such seasons are Kevin Garnett (10 times), Giannis Antetokounmpo (8), and Chris Webber (7).
In his 32 minutes on Thursday, Flagg essentially replicated his college production, recording 6 rebounds, 4 assists (he could have had more if teammates had made more three-pointers from his kickout passes), 3 steals, and 1 block. He also had only one turnover despite facing significant ball pressure from Lakers defenders.
This comprehensive contribution is a major reason for Flagg`s appeal and offers optimism as he begins his rookie season with a team aiming for contention. Playing alongside established stars like Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, D`Angelo Russell, and eventually Kyrie Irving, Flagg won`t be required to be the primary scorer, unlike his role on Thursday. However, he will be most effective by contributing in all other aspects of the game, especially defensively, where his ability to make plays already suggests he can be a significant factor.
Flagg`s Size Poses a Challenge for Opponents
The first striking aspect of Flagg`s game against NBA opponents was his size. Listed at 6-9, he is expected to begin his career at small forward for the notably large Mavericks, who feature a frontcourt of 6-10 Anthony Davis and 7-1 Dereck Lively II.
To start the game, Flagg was defended by former first-round pick Darius Bazley, nominally the Lakers` starting center at 6-8. This type of size mismatch in defensive assignments won`t be viable when Flagg plays alongside Davis and either Lively or the 6-10 Daniel Gafford, players who can exploit smaller defenders in a way others on Dallas` summer roster cannot.
Against shorter opponents, Flagg`s size should provide several advantages. When operating in pick-and-rolls, Flagg will have unobstructed passing lanes over defenders. This is a strategy that coach Jason Kidd encouraged Giannis Antetokounmpo to utilize when coaching him early in his career, suggesting a similar approach is being taken with Flagg.
On the defensive end, Flagg`s size enables him to make impactful plays, as previously noted. His 7-foot wingspan, comparable to that of lottery center pick Derik Queen (7-foot-½), ensures Flagg will consistently disrupt passing lanes.
Ideally, the Mavericks will eventually acquire a dedicated wing defender, allowing them to use Flagg as an active help defender against less potent shooters. For the time being, Dallas may need Flagg to guard the opponent`s top perimeter player when P.J. Washington is not on the court.