Mavs’ Cooper Flagg Shakes Off Rough Shooting Night, Shows Tools In Summer Debut

Cooper Flagg’s first crack at the NBA didn’t come with a flurry of buckets, but it didn’t have to.

The No. 1 overall pick missed 16 of his 21 shots in Thursday’s Summer League opener, yet still managed to leave a lasting impression in Dallas’ 87-85 win over the Lakers.

Flagg finished with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and blocked a shot into next week, showing the kind of all-around presence that reminds you why the Mavericks made him the top pick.

“Not up to my standard, but I’m going to regroup; I’m going to be all right,” Flagg told ESPN after the game. “This is a new feeling, new environment, new teammates, but the guys settled down.”

That calming presence and confidence were on display in the first half, when Flagg scored all 10 of his points, including a coast-to-coast one-handed dunk after a steal that electrified the crowd inside Thomas & Mack Center.

Though the shots didn’t fall in the second half, Flagg’s activity and instincts never wavered.

“Out of Respect”

Lakers defenders double-teamed Flagg right after Dallas won the opening tip, sending a clear message.

“I think that’s out of respect,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said during the ESPN broadcast.

Despite the defensive attention, Flagg showed flashes of what made him the top pick — handling pressure, initiating offense, defending in space, and disrupting passing lanes. Kidd called his poise “incredible” for an 18-year-old.

“He’s a great decision-maker,” Kidd said. “He did that at Duke and also in high school. So, you get to see it tonight. He’s going to have some mistakes. We all did. But you’ve seen a lot of what he can do in this league.”

Supporting Cast Steps Up

With Flagg struggling to find the bottom of the net in the second half, Dallas got a lift from Ryan Nembhard (21 points) and Miles Kelly (17). The Mavs needed every bit of it, too. The game wasn’t decided until Lakers guard Bronny James missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer in the final seconds.

Cole Swider led all scorers with 22 points and 10 rebounds for L.A., while Dalton Knecht added 15 and DJ Steward chipped in 14. Darius Bazley hauled down 11 rebounds.

James finished with eight points, including the Lakers’ first five of the night. He and Flagg shared a few defensive matchups early.

Early Lessons, Long Runway

Flagg will get another chance in Vegas to find his footing. The shot wasn’t falling on Thursday, but the rest of the package was on display. That’s what Summer League is all about — glimpses of what’s coming.

And in Flagg’s case, the Mavs still very much believe what’s coming is special.