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Cooper Flag He made his NBA Summer League debut and gave a bit of a twist.
The future face of the association is Son of the present faceBronnie James and Flag are dominant after the first match.
The son of the NBA’s greatest point leader ever missed the chance to win the game in the final seconds that gave Flagg and his Mavs an 87-85 victory.
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Cooper Flag, the #32 for the Dallas Mavericks, is protected by 9th place Bronnie James for the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of the 2025 NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mac Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 10, 2025. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Ryan Nenbird They gave Dallas a 1:03 lead and headed out to a flagg-backed 3-pointer after Flag took a shot from the LA DJ steward. Los Angeles called a timeout and they brought James along.
Los Angeles got fouls but missed both free throws. Flag then tried to increase his lead with 15 seconds remaining, but missed a shot.
James then attempted to win the game, but missed it, and Mavs managed to escape with victory.
Flag struggled from the floor, scoring just 10 points in a 21-5 shooting, with those six points in a 90-second span in the first quarter. He grabbed six rebounds, handed out four assists, and played three steals and a block in 32 minutes. However, his first bucket was a fierce slum from coast to coast.
“I really couldn’t get into rhythm. It’s a different environment and it’s obviously very different to college. It’s probably a lot different to what the real NBA would look like,” Flag said after the game. “The coaches had a lot of confidence in me. They’ve been asking me to experiment and try some new things.
“I think it might be one of the worst games of my life, but we got a victory, and that’s what really matters to me.”
Los Angeles Lakers No. 9 Bronnie James and Dallas Mavericks #32 Cooper Flag will chase the loose ball in the first half of the 2025 NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mac Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 10, 2025. (Ian Maule/Getty Images)
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Flag admitted he was “a little nervous.”
“It’s a new environment, a lot of new fans and so on,” Flag said. “So I was a little nervous and a little excited, but being here is a blessing. It’s a dream come true, so I’m just trying to enjoy the moment.”
James filled his first attempt through the flag, hitting a three-pointer after the 6-foot-8 Duke product missed a second attempt to give the Lakers a 5-0 lead.
The two played some tough games against each other and shared a lot of laughs in court.
James scored eight points and went along with two boards and two assists.
No. 9 Bronnie James for the Los Angeles Lakers is protected by the Dallas Mavericks #32 Cooper Flag in the first half of the 2025 NBA Summer League Center at Thomas & Mac Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 10, 2025. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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James was his 55th pick in USC’s NBA Draft last year. Flag came in first place in the Dallas Mavericks later last month.
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