2025 First overall NBA Draft pick Cooper Flagg stepped onto the Summer League court Thursday night carrying massive expectations. The No. 1 overall pick hadn’t played competitive basketball since Duke’s Final Four loss in April, and it showed.
His shot wasn’t falling, going just 5-of-21 from the field against the Lakers. But here’s what made the night interesting: we got our first honest look at “Point Flagg,” and the Mavericks rookie was refreshingly honest about why he struggled.
How Did Cooper Flagg Handle His First Taste of Point Guard Duties?
Flagg dominated every statistical category during his lone season at Duke, so taking him was almost automatic when Dallas landed the top pick in the draft lottery. The hype was real, too. Tickets for the Mavericks’ Las Vegas Summer League opener were selling as high as $2,500.
Despite the rough shooting night, Flagg’s debut as a point forward showed promise. He split ball-handling and playmaking responsibilities with Ryan Nembhard, working through double teams and physical pressure from the Lakers. The rookie handled the role with composure, even though it was his first time running the offense at this level.
COOPER FLAGG HITS THE TOUGH JUMPER OVER BRONNY 😲
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/FWRgorg7Oa
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 11, 2025
While Flagg’s court vision and defensive reads looked sharp, the physicality wore him down. After the game, he didn’t make excuses but offered an honest assessment of his conditioning.
“I was looking forward to it… It was fun,” he said. “It’s new for me, bringing it up, having that full-court pressure. I’m not in full game shape, so I was tired… It was fun to experiment with some new things.”
Cooper Flagg on playing on the ball for the majority of the game:
“I was looking forward to it … It was fun. It’s new for me, bringing it up, having that full court pressure. I’m not in full game shape so I was tired…It was fun to experiment with some new things.” pic.twitter.com/YUO1paZUCj
— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) July 11, 2025
What Did Mavericks Coaches See in Flagg’s Debut Performance?
Mavericks Summer League coach Josh Broghamer understood what he was watching. Flagg hadn’t played organized basketball in months, going straight from the draft process into Summer League action. The physical demands of handling the ball against full-court pressure took their toll.
“You get that ball in your hands, the conditioning aspect comes into play,” Broghamer said. “They were picking them on full court, they were trapping him, they were being super physical with him every time he drove it. That’s something, obviously for him, he’s at a high level conditioning-wise, but continue to grow.”
RELATED: 5 Takeaways From Cooper Flagg’s NBA Summer League Debut
He continued, “Like I said, he just had a draft and three workouts and all that stuff, and now he’s coming in to playing fives again, so that will get better.”
The numbers tell the story of a player still re-finding his rhythm. Flagg finished with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one blocked shot in 31 minutes. His shooting struggled across the board: 5-of-21 from the field and 0-for-5 from the three-point range.
However, Dallas still won 87-85 over the Lakers. Nembhard and Miles Kelly scored 21 and 17 points, respectively, while Flagg focused on facilitating and learning his new role.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, but Flagg’s participation remains uncertain. With star point guard Kyrie Irving already sidelined for the season, Dallas wants to be careful with their prized rookie’s health during these exhibition games.
