The Dallas Mavericks faced the San Antonio Spurs in the 2K26 NBA Summer League, where the Spurs came out on top with a 76–69 victory. The game featured standout performances from both Dylan Harper and Cooper Flagg, two of the league’s most talked-about young stars. Following the contest, Harper spoke about what could become a long-standing rivalry between the two rookies.
It marked Harper’s official Summer League debut after missing the Spurs’ first four games, including three during the California Classic in San Francisco. The No. 2 overall pick made an immediate impact, providing a glimpse of his potential in what could be the first of many future showdowns against Flagg and the Mavericks.
“We play him a lot this year, so the future battles are gonna be great,” Harper said when asked about facing Dallas. “One thing he and I got, and the rest of this class got, is that we’re competitors. We’re gonna go out there and compete.”
Harper finished with 16 points, six rebounds, two steals, and two assists in just 17 minutes of action. He also fed off the lively atmosphere inside the Thomas & Mack Center, energizing the crowd with his aggressive play and confidence on the ball.
“The crowd was great today,” said the 19-year-old guard. “What better time to come back than a game like this with a crowd as electrifying as this? We kind of showed the NBA what we’re about.”
The first half of the game was tightly contested, featuring four lead changes and four ties. Dallas went into halftime up 33–32, thanks in large part to Flagg’s 15-point first half. However, San Antonio stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 26–17 while shooting 52.6% from the field, taking a 59–49 lead into the final frame.
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, delivered another eye-catching performance despite the loss. He finished with 31 points on 10-of-21 shooting, including 3-of-9 from beyond the arc. The rookie also added four rebounds and an assist.
However, Flagg struggled from the free-throw line, converting just 8-of-13 attempts. He addressed the issue with a touch of humor postgame, acknowledging the need to improve that part of his game but remaining confident in his overall performance.