Cooper Flagg’s debut draws fourth-largest Summer League audience ever on ESPN

“I was looking forward to (playing point guard), splitting some reps with Ryan (Nembhard),” Flagg said. “It’s new for me, bringing it up, having that full-court pressure a bunch. Obviously, I’m not in full game shape. I’m a little tired, but (I’m) just dealing with that. It was fun experimenting and trying to do different things.” “He didn’t score the ball really well,” Nembhard said of playing with Flagg. “It wasn’t his night, but the gravity he has, it helps guys get good looks. He’s super talented.” Expect plenty more “Point Flagg” this season based on everything the Mavericks’ coaching staff has said. Flagg will suit up again on Saturday, as the Mavericks face the San Antonio Spurs and No. 2 pick Dylan Harper in Las Vegas. “I was a little nervous but excited,” Flagg said. “Just happy to be here. It’s a dream come true. Just trying to enjoy the moment.” -via New York Times / July 11, 2025

The other thing that matters: neither the Mavericks nor Cooper Flagg sounded concerned about his debut. Summer League performances rarely foreshadow NBA excellence or failure. But one important Mavericks figure saw a positive development as he observed Flagg’s shots clank off the rim. “You kind of have to think of the Kobe Bryant arc,” former Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban told a small group of reporters. “It took him some time to get it right. I don’t want to curse him by comparing him to Kobe because they’re not the same. But Kobe didn’t come in right away as a polished player. It took him two years to get it.” -via SportsKeeda / July 11, 2025

“I think the difference is that Cooper can pass,” Cuban said. “He can play the game. He can defend. So you can put him in any NBA game.” Aside from Flagg’s poor shooting numbers, the Mavericks walked away actually impressed with how the No. 1 pick fared. Flagg added six rebounds, four assists, three steals and a block. He often assumed ball-handling duties. He ran the floor well in transition. He performed that job description in 32 minutes, though Cuban joked it felt like “90 minutes.” “He’s only 18 so you can play him 90 minutes in a summer league game,” Cuban said. “Even if you could tell he was gassed, he still made the right play. He didn’t try to do too much and say, ‘Hey, I’m the No. 1 pick. Let me try to show you why. He played basketball the whole time.’ And he’s 18. My daughter just graduated from high school last month, and he’s younger than her.” -via SportsKeeda / July 11, 2025