LAS VEGAS — If there’s one thing Cooper Flagg is learning, it’s that no matter how rough the road gets, you’ve got to find a way to make the play that counts. His debut in the NBA 2K26 Summer League on Thursday night was far from flawless, but in typical Flagg fashion, he ended up with the most important play of the game when his team needed it most.
The Dallas Mavericks were clinging to a slim lead in the final moments of their 87-85 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Enter Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. With just 1:10 left on the clock, DJ Steward of the Lakers thought he had a clear path to the basket. But Flagg, ever the defensive menace, swooped in from the weak side and blocked Steward’s layup attempt like he was swatting a fly.
But here’s where it gets fun.
Flagg, who stands a hulking 6-foot-8 and weighs 220 pounds, wasn’t done. He grabbed the rebound, pushed the ball down the court in transition, and, despite drawing three Lakers defenders as he neared the paint, found Ryan Nembhard for an open 3-pointer that gave Dallas the lead for good.
Now, let’s not sugarcoat it: the box score doesn’t exactly sparkle. Flagg shot 5-of-21 from the field and was 0-of-5 from beyond the arc. But the game wasn’t about the numbers. It was about the kind of player he is — someone who thrives when the game is on the line, even if it’s not going perfectly.
“That’s what he does,” said Mavericks assistant coach Josh Broghamer, who also served as the head coach for Dallas in the summer league. “He makes winning plays, whether it’s offense or defense. I think that’s as advertised. So whether it’s the right pass, or it’s a defensive possession, or scoring the ball, that’s what he does.”
It wasn’t an easy night for Flagg, who’s trying to make the transition into a new role. Dallas coach Jason Kidd tasked the 18-year-old with facilitating much of the offense, using him as a point guard to expand his game beyond just being a scorer. And the Lakers, sensing the challenge, didn’t make it easy. They trapped Flagg at half-court on his first touch, physically defending him at every turn.
“I thought that was out of respect,” Kidd said at halftime, reflecting on the Lakers’ aggressive defense. “When you have someone like Cooper, who can handle, who can shoot, who can pass, you want the ball in his hands. He’s a great decision-maker.”
Despite struggling with his shot, Flagg didn’t shrink from the challenge. He still managed 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and the game-winning block and assist. That sequence — the block, the push in transition, the assist — defined his night.
“Shots weren’t falling, but that’s going to happen,” Flagg said, shrugging off his shooting struggles. “It is somewhat new to me. I haven’t probably taken that many shots before, so that’s somewhat new. I’m going to try and figure it out. But new experience, so I’m excited to keep playing and move forward.”
The dude just has a confidence about him that doesn’t waver. Even when things weren’t going his way, he wasn’t rattled.
One of the biggest takeaways from Thursday’s game was Flagg’s ability to thrive in transition. You could see his athleticism on display with fast-break dunks, slick finishes, and his ability to control the tempo. His first bucket was a nasty tomahawk dunk in traffic, following a steal and leading the break.
Later, Flagg dropped a baseline fadeaway over 2024 first-round pick Dalton Knecht. Then, just for good measure, he threw down a coast-to-coast and-1 layup over Darius Bazley, another former first-rounder. All these plays were glimpses into why everyone’s so high on Flagg as a future star.
The Flagg-James Showdown: Vegas Buzzing
As if Flagg’s performance wasn’t enough to keep the crowd engaged, the game also featured a tantalizing matchup between him and Bronny James, LeBron’s son, which had the Thomas & Mack Center buzzing all night long.
There’s something electric about watching two top-tier prospects, each with their own early legacy to live up to, go head-to-head on the same floor. Every time Flagg and Bronny crossed paths, the crowd knew it — and they were loud about it.
One of the highlights came when Flagg drained a midrange turnaround over Bronny in a tight post-up situation. The call was a controversial one, as Bronny was whistled for a foul after poking the ball away from Flagg, a decision that had the crowd on its feet, voicing their opinions. The steal looked clean, but I digress. It was just another chapter in what promises to be a long, competitive rivalry between the two.
“He’s got like a half a foot on me, so I’m just trying to stand my ground,” Bronny said after the game. “I got to stand my ground down there and make sure I’m not getting bullied anywhere on the court… He’s great. I mean, I watched him all in college and he’s an amazing player. I have the utmost respect for him. He’s going to be something special.”
The Flagg vs. Bronny battle will only intensify over time, and it was clear that both of these young stars brought their A-game to Vegas. The crowd certainly appreciated it, and if the energy in that building is any indication, this is just the beginning of what’s going to be a fun and fiery rivalry.
As much as Flagg’s shooting numbers might raise eyebrows, the game wasn’t about the box score. It was about proving that when the game is on the line, Cooper Flagg is the guy you want on your side — whether he’s scoring, passing, or making the clutch defensive play.
The summer league’s always a mixed bag of highlights and growing pains, but if Flagg’s debut told us anything, it’s that the kid is going to be just fine.
And for the Dallas Mavericks, that’s the only thing that matters.