The Summer League is here with a new twist this year. The tournament is now a three-part event, with the main stage taking place in Las Vegas. For the Dallas Mavericks, though, there won’t be any warm-up games before the NBA 2K26 Summer League, which tips off July 10.
The Mavericks, who will not participate in the California Classic or Salt Lake City Summer League, will compete directly in the main event and are currently putting in the work. As expected, the rookie sensation Cooper Flagg is leading the charge, and he looks ready to go and can’t seem to miss from deep.
Cooper Flagg Puts on a Shooting Clinic as Summer League Nears
In a clip from the Mavericks’ practice ahead of the summer league, Flagg was seen practicing his shots from beyond the arc alongside teammate Max Lewis. In the video, the former Duke Blue Devils forward showcased his elite three-level scoring, going a perfect 9-for-9 on 3-pointers.
Cooper Flagg and Max Lewis work on right wing threes at Dallas Mavericks Summer League practice.
Flagg does not miss in this entire clip. pic.twitter.com/kXlRb3Hw1n
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) July 9, 2025
Fans across the league assembled to praise the rookie, highlighting the excellent arc on Flagg’s textbook jumper. Flagg had a strong season from 3-point land with the Blue Devils. For the 2024-25 season, he shot 38.5% from beyond the arc. In fact, over his final 25 games at Duke, he averaged 45.1% from 3-point range, displaying higher efficiency as the stakes increased.
The arc on his shot is perfection pic.twitter.com/3MCEuWX4N2
— Mr. Uno-Amor (@420LuvNYC) July 9, 2025
While Flagg’s smooth jumper caught the attention of the fans, it is merely a facet of his game as the 6’9″ forward can do it all on the floor. Although Flagg can score from anywhere on the floor, his ability to impact the game in more ways than his scoring makes him a truly special addition to Dallas. Owing to this, fans will be highly anticipating Flagg’s Summer League debut against the Los Angeles Lakers on July 10.
I cannot wait to see this dude play.
— Big G (@Big_Garrett00) July 9, 2025
Although the transition from NCAA to the NBA is difficult, Flagg has looked like he belongs ever since he stepped out at the draft. And while it’s advised not to rush a rookie, that hardly seems to be the case for the former Duke forward, whose multifaceted game should fit into any system in the league smoothly.
Mane already looking good
— Al B. 🤫 (@ABrick21) July 9, 2025
The addition of Flagg brings a lot of hope to the Mavericks’ coming season. The team still holds very valuable pieces and can hence be a dark horse contender heading into next season. For now, Flagg will have to prove his worth in Las Vegas, as other prospects would look to dethrone the No. 1 overall pick.
I want to see him play under defense now!!!