LAS VEGAS—No. 1 choice Cooper Flagg made the most significant play in what he called “one of the worst games of my life.”
Flagg came in from the weak side to block Los Angeles Lakers player DJ Steward’s driving layup attempt with 1:10 left in Thursday night’s NBA 2K26 Summer League opener. Cooper Flagg then moved the ball down the floor in transition, drawing three defenders as he reached the post, and finding teammate Ryan Nembhard wide open for a 3-pointer that gave the Dallas Mavericks an 87-85 victory.
Flagg’s shooting problems (5-of-21 from the floor, 0-of-5 from 3-point range) are highlighted in the box score, but his coaches believe the defensive stop and assist to be the game’s defining moment, a sequence that embodied Flagg’s competitive nature and overall influence.
“That’s what he does,” explained Mavs assistant Josh Broghamer, the team’s summer league head coach. “He creates winning plays, both on offense and defense. I believe that is as advertised. So, whether it’s the right pass, a defensive possession, or scoring the ball, he does it all.”
Jason Kidd’s Challenge and Cooper Flagg’s Response
During the summer league, Dallas coach Jason Kidd assigned Cooper Flagg to routinely play point guard, challenging the 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward to expand his skills as a key facilitator. The Lakers seemed determined to make Flagg as uncomfortable as possible in his new role, trapping him at half court the first time he touched the ball and forcefully defending him throughout the game.
“I thought that was out of respect,” Kidd said to ESPN’s Malika Andrews at halftime, alluding to the double-team on the first possession. “If you have someone like Cooper Flagg who can handle, shoot, and pass, you want the ball in his hands. He’s an excellent decision-maker. He did this at Duke. He did that in high school. He is going to make some mistakes. We all did. We all flung it in the stands from time to time. But I think his poise for an 18-year-old is outstanding.”
Flagg, who ended with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and a block, demonstrated his ability to handle and dish the ball during his summer league debut. He struggled to find his shooting rhythm, making only two of his seventeen attempts outside of the restricted area, and said that it felt strange to launch so many jumpers.
“The coaches are very confident in me,” Cooper Flagg stated. “They told me they wanted me to experiment and try different things. I tried to be aggressive. That’s new to me as well.
“That was probably one of the worst games I’ve ever played. We won, and that’s what counts to me.”
Flagg struggled particularly in half-court sets, as all but one of his baskets came in transition. The exception was a difficult midrange turnaround against Bronny James.
This happened soon after James was called for a foul for poking the ball away from Flagg on a post-up, a call blasted by the Thomas & Mack Center audience, which hummed every time the top choice and the second-year Laker faced off in an individual showdown.
“He’s got like half a foot on me, so I’m just trying to stand my ground,” James was saying. “I need to stand my ground down there and make sure I don’t get bullied anyplace on the court. He’s great. I mean, I watched him throughout college, and he’s an incredible player. I have the greatest respect for him. He’s going to be very unique.”
Cooper Flagg surprised the fans on numerous occasions with dazzling transition plays that showcased his agility and ball-handling abilities.
His first basket was a tomahawk slam in jam middle of the first quarter, capping off a fast break that began with a steal. He drove the ball again on the next possession, pushing up for a baseline fadeaway over Dalton Knecht, a 2024 first-round choice. Flagg also had a and-1 layup off a look-ahead pass and a nice finish over former first-round pick Darius Bazley after going coast-to-coast.
Flagg, who averaged 19.2 points on 48.1% shooting during his one season at Duke, expressed annoyance with his inability to score from half-court settings Thursday but said he wasn’t concerned.
“Shots weren’t falling, but that’s going to happen,” Flagg admitted. “It will be evenings like that. It’s somewhat new to me. I haven’t probably taken that many photos before, so it’s something new. I’m going to try to figure this out. But it’s a new experience, so I’m looking forward to continuing to play and progress.”
You can also discover more in-depth and latest updates on Hoobae.
You can read more blogs about the latest basketball updates!