Cooper Flagg's summer league debut wasn't perfect. But there were flashes of greatness, and at this stage the Mavericks would be wise to let him fail.

While Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg has the usual pressure of being the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, the former Duke star is in a situation that sets up his rookie season to be tougher than even LeBron James and Victor Wembanyama’s first NBA campaigns.

Cooper Flagg appeared in his first pro game on Thursday night when the Dallas Mavericks played the Los Angeles Lakers at NBA Summer League. During the game (which the Mavs won by a score of 87-85), Flagg made a shot over Bronny James that got a lot of views on social media.

Cooper Flagg made his NBA Summer League debut Thursday night and although he and the Dallas Mavericks earned the win, the No. 1 NBA Draft pick called it “one of the worst game of my life.”

LAS VEGAS — He missed 16 of 21 shots, including all five attempts from deep, and airballed his first and final shots. And those who saw his NBA 2K26 Summer League debut still came away with a consensus gut feeling: Cooper Flagg is right on pace to be a problem.

Frenzy became bedlam on the next play. Flagg talked trash to James, ran to his spot on the left wing, pivoted off the catch and nailed the shot before turning to exult with his future Mavericks varsity teammates, who cheered him on decked out in casual wear from their courtside seats.

Cooper Flagg may not have been happy with his professional debut in the NBA Summer League, but he still drew some rave reviews afterward.

NBA Las Vegas Summer League is underway, and the Los Angeles Lakers had an exciting matchup. Lakers guard Bronny James faced the Dallas Mavericks and rookie sma

Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer talks about the impact Cooper Flagg had on him as a coach during his one and only year at Durham.