Cooper Flagg wins summer league debut despite uneven showing

Las Vegas – Choice No. 1 Cooper Flagg managed to make the most important game in what he described as “one of the worst games of my life”.

Flagg sank on the weak side to flow away from Los Angeles Lakers Lakers Guard DJ Steward’s driving attempt with 1:10 to do when opening the NBA 2K26 summer league on Thursday evening. Flagg then pushed the ball on the ground in transition, attracted three defenders while he approached painting and found his teammate Ryan Nembhard Grand Open for a 3-point pointer who gave Dallas Mavericks the advance for good in a victory of 87-85.

The difficulties of flagg shooting (5 out of 21 of the ground, 0 out of 5 of the range of 3 points) are distinguished in the scoring of the box, but its coaches consider the defensive stop and the assistance as the determining moment of the game, a sequence which has encapsulated the competitive character of Flagg and the full impact.

“This is what he does,” said MAVS assistant Josh Broghamer, head coach of the team’s summer league. “It makes winning games, whether it is an offense or a defense. I think it is as announced. So, whether it is the right pass or whether it is a defensive possession or to mark the ball, that’s what it does.”

Dallas coach Jason Kidd has ordered Flagg to be frequently used as a playmaker during the summer league, which puts forward the first 8 -inch and 220 pound facilitator to extend his game as a main facilitator. The Lakers seemed determined to make flagg as uncomfortable in his new role as possible, trapping him with Half the first time he touched the ball and defending it physically throughout the night.

“I thought it was out of respect,” Kidd told Malika Andrews d’Espn at halftime, referring to the double team of opening possession. “When you have someone like Cooper, who can manage, who can shoot, who can pass, you want the ball in his hands. He is an excellent decision -maker. He did it at Duke. He did it in high school. He will have some mistakes. We all made it. We all threw him in the stands from time to time. But I think that his darking was an 18 -year -old child.”

Flagg, which finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 interceptions and the block, showed its ability to manage the ball and pass during its beginnings in the summer league. He could not find a rhythm as a shooter, making only 2 of his 17 attempts outside the restricted area, and admitted that it seemed strange to launch so many riders.

“The coaches have a lot of self -confidence,” said Flagg. “They told me they wanted me to experience, try new things. I was trying to be aggressive. It’s new to me too.

“I would say it could be one of the worst games in my life. We got victory, so that’s what really matters to me.”

Flagg particularly fought in half-haired sets, because all his buckets except one came in transition. The exception was a difficult mid-range turnaround on Bronny James, which occurred immediately after James was called for a fault after pushing the ball away from Flagg on a post-up, a call hooked by the crowd of the Thomas & Mack center which burst whenever the higher choice and the second-year laker engaged in an individual match.

“He has half a step on me, so I’m just trying to stand up,” said James. “I have to hold my field there and make sure that I am not intimidated anywhere on the field. … He is great. I mean, I looked at him all at university and he is an incredible player. I have the greatest respect for him. He will be something special.”

Flagg has seduced the crowd several times with spectacular games in transition, displaying its mixture of athletics and capacity for the threat of ball.

His first basket was a Dunk Tomahawk in traffic in the middle of the first quarter, ending a quick break which he started with a flight. He pushed the ball again the following possession, stopping for a basic Fadeaway on the choice of first round in 2024, Dalton Knecht. Flagg also had a lay-up and 1 after receiving a pass from Lookahead and a nice final on the former first round choice Darius Bazley after being training.

Flagg, which raised an average of 19.2 points out of 48.1% of shooting in his only season in Duke, recognized a certain frustration with his inability to score half-terrain sets on Thursday, but added that he was not careful.

“The shots were not falling, but it will happen,” said Flagg. “It’s going to be nights like that. It’s a bit new to me. I probably didn’t take so many photos before, so it’s a bit new. I’m going to try to understand it. But a new experience, so I’m happy to continue playing and move forward.”