Cooper Flagg’s Rocky Summer League Debut Still Showcased His Winning Instincts

It wasn’t the prettiest debut, but it was certainly memorable. Despite enduring one of the toughest shooting nights of his young career, No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg still found a way to be the hero for the Dallas Mavericks in their 87–85 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA 2K26 Summer League opener.

With just over a minute remaining and the game hanging in the balance, Flagg made the play of the night — swatting DJ Steward’s layup attempt from the weak side, then initiating a fast break that ended with a slick assist to Ryan Nembhard for a go-ahead three. It was a moment that captured the essence of Flagg’s game: relentless, intelligent, and unselfish, even on a night when his shot wouldn’t fall.

Flagg’s final stat line — 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and a critical block — was respectable, but the 5-of-21 shooting (0-of-5 from deep) tells the story of an 18-year-old phenom still adjusting to the professional game. “It might’ve been one of the worst games of my life,” Flagg admitted postgame. “But we got the win — and that’s what matters most.”

Jason Kidd, Dallas’ head coach, had made a deliberate choice to test Flagg as a primary ball-handler, frequently assigning him point guard duties to expand his skillset. The Lakers responded with aggressive pressure, even trapping him at half-court from the opening possession. “That double team? That’s respect,” Kidd noted at halftime. “He’s a great decision-maker. He showed that at Duke and in high school. He’ll make mistakes, but his poise at 18 is something else.”

Physically, Flagg looked the part of an NBA-ready player. At 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, he was a presence in transition, repeatedly pushing the pace off rebounds and steals. His first bucket — a thunderous tomahawk dunk in traffic — brought the crowd to its feet. Moments later, he pulled up for a silky fadeaway over Dalton Knecht. Later in the game, he went coast-to-coast for a gliding layup over Darius Bazley and converted an and-1 after a fast break finish.

However, his struggles in the half-court were undeniable. Aside from one tough midrange turnaround over Bronny James — a possession that had the Thomas & Mack Center buzzing — Flagg was mostly ineffective when the Mavericks slowed the tempo. “It felt weird launching so many jumpers,” he admitted. “But the coaches want me to experiment and push my game. That’s all new for me.”

James, who found himself matched up with Flagg in several key moments, acknowledged the challenge. “He’s got a big size advantage on me, so I’ve just got to hold my ground,” James said. “He’s an amazing player — I watched him a lot in college. He’s definitely going to be special.”

Mavericks summer league coach Josh Broghamer summed it up best: “Whether it’s a stop on defense, the right pass, or a big shot — he makes winning plays. That’s who Cooper is.”

While Flagg’s offensive rhythm may take time to develop, his versatility and competitive edge were unmistakable. For Dallas fans and basketball purists alike, there was more than enough to get excited about — even if the box score didn’t tell the whole story.

And for Flagg, the message was clear: he’s just getting started.

Previously on our site:
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