The NBA Summer League has long served as a proving ground for unheralded young players and overlooked former college basketball stars. However, the goal of the summer league for top prospects and second-year pros is to prove that they don’t belong in Vegas. Through just two games, Cooper Flagg has done that.
The Dallas Mavericks have seen enough from the 2025 No. 1 overall pick to shut him down for the remainder of the Summer League and allow him to prepare for the regular season in basketball in the fall.
Mavericks shut down Cooper Flagg after just two Summer League games
Flagg eased into his debut on Thursday night, one that drew a fair amount of attention and pitted him against Bronny James and the Summer League Lakers. He played 32 minutes and finished with 10 points on 5-21 shooting and 0-6 from three. Still, ever impactful on both ends of the floor, he managed six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block.
Against the Lakers, Flagg appeared to be recalibrating offensively, finding what moves in his repertoire are still viable against NBA defenders. At times, he looked uncomfortable with opponents matching his size and athleticism much more often than at the collegiate level. If there was any cause for concern, that was squashed on Saturday night.
