Cooper Flagg Raves About Undrafted Mavericks Teammate in Stellar Debut!

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By: Mike

On Thursday night, Dallas Mavericks enthusiasts witnessed the anticipated NBA Summer League debut of their top draft pick, Cooper Flagg, as the Mavericks faced off against the Lakers.

The Mavericks secured a narrow victory with a score of 87–85, despite Flagg’s challenging performance, where he managed only 10 points, hitting 5 of 21 attempts. Although dissatisfied with his own showing, Flagg was quick to commend his teammates, especially the undrafted newcomer Ryan Nembhard.

“Ryan’s phenomenal. His ability to pass, score at all levels, and defend impressively for his size predicts a promising career ahead,” Flagg praised.

Nembhard emerged as the top performer for the Mavericks that evening, contributing 21 points. He joined the team as an undrafted player after four years in college basketball, including stints at Creighton and Gonzaga. During the 2024–25 season, he averaged 10.5 points and led the nation with 9.8 assists per game.

Despite his less-than-stellar debut, Flagg was not overly concerned about his future performance, acknowledging the adjustments needed when transitioning from college to the NBA.

“The game is just different here – the pace, the feel, the spacing. It requires some adjustments, but we’ll manage,” Flagg remarked.

The Mavericks are set to play next in the Summer League on Saturday, July 12, facing off against the San Antonio Spurs and their No. 2 draft pick, Dylan Harper.


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