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In his first appearance for the Dallas Mavericks during the Summer League, Cooper Flagg, the top draft pick of the 2025 NBA draft, helped secure an 87–85 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. Despite describing his own performance as possibly the worst in his career, it was clear that the league views the 18-year-old Duke standout with significant reverence.
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In a mid-game discussion with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Mavericks’ head coach Jason Kidd commented on the Lakers’ defensive tactics against Flagg, interpreting these as a mark of “respect.”
“His poise as an 18-year-old is incredible.”@malika_andrews captures Jason Kidd’s first impressions of Cooper Flagg in his summer league debut pic.twitter.com/E7KW6LwCLb
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 11, 2025
“… I thought the Lakers sent a double team on the first play of the game,” Kidd noted. “I believe that’s out of respect.”
Flagg, tasked by Kidd and Mavericks Summer League coach Josh Broghamer to serve essentially as a point-forward, faced intense defensive attention from the moment he first handled the ball, being double-teamed by the Lakers at mid-court. The Lakers maintained this level of defensive intensity against Flagg throughout the game.
The aggressive defensive tactics employed by the Lakers likely preview how other NBA teams may confront Flagg, one of the most highly anticipated rookies in recent NBA history, for the remainder of the Summer League and into his inaugural season.
Flagg and the Mavericks are set to return to the court on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET for a match against the San Antonio Spurs.
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