Cooper Flagg Reflects on Challenging Summer League Debut: “Just Happy to Be Here”

No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg called his NBA Summer League debut “one of the worst games of my life,” after a rough shooting night in the Dallas Mavericks’ narrow 87–85 win over Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. Despite the struggles, Flagg remained grounded and focused on the team’s success, emphasizing, “We got the win — so that’s what really matters to me.”

Flagg, 18, finished with 10 points on just 5-of-21 shooting from the field, missing all five of his attempts from beyond the arc. Still, his stat line showed promise beyond scoring: six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block, a glimpse of the all-around impact he’s capable of making.

“I couldn’t really get into a rhythm,” Flagg admitted postgame. “It’s a different environment, obviously very different from college, and probably very different from what the real NBA is gonna be like.”

The debut jitters were evident. Flagg missed his first two shots and committed a foul within the opening minute. Double-teamed from the start, he handled pressure with poise but struggled to find his shot.

“I was obviously a little nervous. It’s a new environment, a lot of new fans and whatnot,” he said. “So I was a little nervous, a little excited, but just happy to be here. It’s a dream come true, so I’m just trying to enjoy the moment.”

Despite the shaky shooting, Flagg did give the crowd something to cheer about midway through the game. At the 4:30 mark, he broke free for a full-court slam dunk — his first points in a Mavericks uniform — offering a flash of the athleticism that made him the top pick.

The Mavericks coaching staff encouraged Flagg to use the Summer League as a learning ground. “The coaches had a lot of confidence in me,” he said. “They’ve been telling me they want me to experiment, try some new things, and I was trying to be aggressive — and that’s new for me too.”

Dallas is set to face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET. While it’s not yet confirmed if Flagg will play, the next game could be a valuable opportunity for him to bounce back and settle into the pro game.

For now, the highly-touted prospect is staying patient. “It’s about learning,” Flagg said. “And I’m here for all of it.”