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Mavs Make Big Cooper Flagg Decision After Summer League Explosion

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Jul 13, 2025 1:59 PM ET

Cooper Flagg bounced back after a tough Summer League debut in the win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The Dallas Mavericks lost to the San Antonio Spurs 76-69, but the Duke star looked dominant on both ends of the floor.

He was much more efficient with his shot, dropping 31 points on 10-of-20 from the floor, adding four rebounds, one assist, one block, and three three-pointers.

He also went to the line 13 times, and while he only knocked down eight shots from the charity stripe, he looked way more aggressive getting to his spots and driving to the rim:

“I definitely felt a little more comfortable,” Flagg admitted. “They were still picking up 94 (feet). They did a really good job of pressuring us, getting us out of our actions. So that was tough. We had to try to figure out our spacing. But I was trusting all the work. I tried to get to the free-throw line, get to the rim. I was trying my best to be aggressive and assert myself early. I got to the line a lot better today.”

That's why Mavs fans will hate to know that we won't get to watch the first-overall pick take the court again until the preseason.

According to a report by NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavs will shut down Flagg for the remainder of the Summer League. Of course, this has become standard procedure as teams manage their young stars and their workloads carefully, but it's still a little disappointing.

The Mavs are shutting down Cooper Flagg for the remainder of the Summer League, per @TheSteinLine. pic.twitter.com/n11zGr2g59
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 13, 2025

It's not unusual to watch rookies be inconsistent in their first taste of NBA action, but despite the mixed results, Flagg looked the part on defense and showcased his offensive versatility in the small sample size.

The Mavs will take the court again on Monday to face the Charlotte Hornets. This time, with the new face of the franchise wearing street clothes.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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