The Dallas Mavericks have ended Cooper Flagg’s NBA Summer League campaign after just two games, opting to keep their No. 1 overall pick sidelined for the remainder of the Las Vegas showcase.
A dramatic turnaround marked Flagg’s brief stint in the summer league.
The 18-year-old rookie struggled in his debut against the Los Angeles Lakers, managing only 10 points on 5-of-21 shooting, while also contributing to the team’s win with strong defense and sound decision-making.
However, Flagg bounced back with a dominant 31-point game against the San Antonio Spurs in his second appearance, shooting 10-for-21 from the field and adding four rebounds in 31 minutes of play despite the loss.
This performance has now prompted the Mavericks to shut him down for the remainder of the summer league, according to NBA Insider Marc Stein.
No indication has been made by the Mavericks about any injuries or concerns, with the franchise seemingly satisfied with his production and choosing to shut him down out of an abundance of caution.
Flagg’s two-game sample offered a glimpse of his potential impact on both ends of the floor, with the 6-foot-7 forward demonstrating an ability to score from all areas of the court while also being one of the best defenders on the roster.
Shortly after his 31-point outburst, Flagg said he “definitely felt a little more comfortable,” adding that he was “trusting all the work” he has put in outside of games.
“I tried to get to the free-throw line, get to the rim. I was trying my best to be aggressive and assert myself early. I got to the line a lot better today,” he said, according to The Mavericks.
Dallas Summer League Head Coach Josh Broghamer praised Flagg’s decision-making across the two games, noting that he produced only three turnovers in 62 minutes of court time.
“He just continues to make the right plays, whether it’s driving by the guy who’s pressuring him or we’ve used him more and more as a roller off the ball just to try to get him some easier catches (instead) of working so hard to bring the ball up the floor. He got to the free throw line and made plays. It was a really good night,” said Broghamer, per The Mavericks.
Although he will not be relied on as heavily during the regular season, Dallas will likely need Flagg to be an instant contributor in his rookie season to truly compete for an NBA championship.
The Mavericks have continued to add both players and coaches throughout the offseason in an attempt to put this team over the top.
In addition to adding Flagg in the draft, Dallas added point guard D’Angelo Russell on a two-year contract worth roughly $13 million, who will help manage the team’s ball-handling duties as Kyrie Irving recovers from a torn ACL, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Outside of players, the Mavericks have almost completely revamped the coaching staff.
As reported by DX, Dallas lost assistant coaches Sean Sweeney and God Shammgod and could be in danger of losing Jared Dudley to competitors.
Now, the Mavericks will enter next season with Frank Vogel, Popeye Jones, and Phil Handy on the staff as replacements.
Each of these coaching additions joins the Mavericks with a combination of championship experience and rapport with Head Coach Jason Kidd, indicating that the Mavericks aim for a seamless transition into the 2025-26 regular season.