Cooper Flagg, the first pick in the draft, has given fans an exciting preview of his skills during his first two games at the NBA Summer League with the Dallas Mavericks. His performances showed a mix of impressive talent and areas where he can still grow, giving a clear idea of what to expect in the upcoming season.
🏀 Learning and Improving Quickly
Flagg’s two games showed a clear difference in his approach. In his first game against the Lakers, he struggled by taking many difficult mid-range shots. However, he adjusted well in his second game against the Spurs, focusing on driving aggressively to the basket. This led to a much more efficient and successful performance. In both games, he looked most comfortable during fast breaks, where his size and speed were difficult for opponents to handle.
🧠 A Developing Playmaker
While his teammate Ryan Nembhard was the main point guard, Flagg also had many chances to create plays. He often looked to score himself rather than pass for assists, but this may change during the regular season. At Duke, he was known for his excellent passing. As he gets more comfortable with the Mavericks’ system, his playmaking skills are likely to shine. It was also impressive that he only averaged 1.5 turnovers per game, showing he can handle the ball well under pressure.
🎯 All-Around Contributions
Although Flagg was a good three-point shooter in college, he had some difficulty with his shooting in the Summer League. He wasn’t afraid to shoot, but he may get more open looks playing alongside his Mavericks teammates. On defense, his natural instincts were easy to see. He was always in the right position to help his team and contested shots without committing fouls. While his stats for blocks and rebounds weren’t high, this is expected since he will be playing with other big men like Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, or Daniel Gafford. Instead of fighting for rebounds, he might be asked to start fast breaks.
