The Dallas Mavericks are enthusiastic about their No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg, after his impressive Summer League debut. According to Keith Smith on Spotrac, Flagg has exceeded expectations both on and off the court.
A Mavericks front office executive shared, “Since we selected him, he’s been everything we thought he’d be and even more. Tremendous kid on and off the court.” The executive recalled Flagg’s determination after a rough first game in Las Vegas.
“He shot like crap in his first game here. Second game he dominated. We had a plan to play only two games. Cooper comes to us and the coaches and asks to play a third game. We laughed and told him, ‘No. You’re good.’ And he goes, ‘I just don’t want people to think the good game was a fluke.’ All we could do was laugh, but it shows how much he wants to be great.”
Flagg’s tenacity has caught the attention beyond Dallas. An Eastern Conference general manager called him a “generational talent” and praised the Mavericks’ luck in landing him. “That kid is unbelievable. You knew after he played like crap in the first game that he was going to be great the next time out. He’s an ass-kicker. Wish we had that kind of luck,” the GM said.
Flagg’s rookie season at Duke was strong, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He showed all-around skills and defensive ability, making him one of the top prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft.
During Summer League, Flagg played two games, averaging 20.5 points, five rebounds, and 2.5 assists in over 31 minutes per game. While his shooting percentages left room for improvement, his competitive spirit was evident.
