Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg all
business as he makes his professional debut at NBA Summer League
[July 11, 2025]
By W.G. RAMIREZ
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg made his professional debut Thursday
night in the NBA Summer League and celebrated an 87-85 win over
Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Flagg finished with 10 points on 5-for-21 shooting, including 0 for
5 from 3-point range. He also had six rebounds, four assists, three
steals and one block. Though Flagg struggled at times to find his
groove, there were flashes as to why he was chosen No. 1 overall
last month, doing plenty of little things that helped the Mavericks
seal the win, including a key block near the end of the game.
Flagg swatted DJ Steward's attempt with 1:10 remaining, and Ryan
Nembhard made a 3-pointer at the other end to give Dallas the 87-85
lead.
“I couldn’t really get into a rhythm, it’s a different environment,
obviously very different from college, it’s probably very different
from what the real NBA is gonna be like,” Flagg said after the game.
"The coaches had a lot of confidence in me. They’ve been telling me
they want me to experiment, try some new things, and I was trying to
be aggressive, and that’s new for me too.
“I would say that might be one of the worst games in my life, but we
got the win, that’s what really matters to me.”
Flagg strolled into UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center for the game at
4:17 p.m., wearing Mavericks gear, bright white New Balance shoes,
and an emotionless look on his face as he passed through security.
Roughly 45 minutes later, he wore the same stone-cold face as he
came out for warmups shortly after 5 p.m.
“I was obviously a little nervous, it’s a new environment, a lot of
new fans and whatnot," Flagg said. "So I was a little nervous, a
little excited, but just happy to be here. It’s a dream come true,
so I’m just trying to enjoy the moment.”
His fans more than made up for it with plenty of energy,
electrifying the jam-packed arena that cheered loudest when he was
announced as a starter in his first Summer League game.
Flagg missed his first two attempts of the game, picked up his first
foul just 46 seconds into the game, and gave the crowd what they'd
been anticipating, going one-on-one with fellow fan favorite James.
James buried his first attempt over Flagg, and then hit a 3-pointer
after the 6-foot-8 Duke product missed his second attempt to give
the Lakers a 5-0 lead.
Flagg excited the crowd at the 4:30 mark of the first quarter,
jamming home his first points.
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Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) attempts a three-point
basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half of an
NBA summer league basketball game Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Las
Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Early in the second quarter, Flagg nearly sent
every fan in the building into a frenzy when he made a spin move
into the paint and attempted a one-handed slam dunk over 7-foot
Christian Koloko. The ball caromed off the back of the rim and still
drew plenty of oohs and ahhs.
Generally filled with Lakers fans when the team
plays in the summer, the arena was full of emotion with a fair share
of Mavericks fans in attendance to see the 2025 National college
player of the year.
Like 15-year-old Baer Epple, 15, who was seated with his father Chad
in the third row from the court, donning Dirk Nowitzki's Mavericks
jersey.
Epple said he’s been following Flagg since before his Duke days,
beginning with his junior year at Nokomis Regional High School in
Newport, Maine.
The 15-year-old who is in Las Vegas from Seattle for an AAU
tournament said he’s been a Mavericks fan for roughly four years.
“Even more of a fan now that they got Cooper Flagg,” Epple said.
“Hopefully he does good, that’d be pretty cool to see. I don’t want
him to be like a bust or anything.”
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told The Associated Press before the game
he was looking for nothing more than effort and grit in his team’s
opening game, as he wanted them all playing hard.
“This summer league is a little different when you have this type of
turnout,” Kidd said. “But the guys have had a couple practices.
There’s going to be some turnovers. I just want to see how they
respond to a couple of mistakes being made, no one’s gonna play a
perfect game and be unselfish.”
As for his prize draft pick: “We’re all excited,” Kidd said of
Flagg. “Seen enough of him on tape, so now it’s good to see him on
the floor.”
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