NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett has never been one to hold back, and once again, the former Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics star is making headlines ā this time for his excitement over an anticipated Summer League showdown between Cooper Flagg and Bronny James.
The highly anticipated matchup has already captured fan attention, and now Garnett is adding fuel to the buzz. The former MVP took to Instagram with an energetic post after receiving the Summer League schedule.
āAwwwww s**tā¦ just got the Summer League schedule and I see that got BRONNY VS THE FLAGā¦ FIRST NIGHT TYPE ISHHHHā¦ yooooo the energy in the building is about to be crazy,ā Garnett wrote. āYESSS, LETāS GET THIS THANG STARTEDā¦ I need to see it.ā
This clash between Flagg and James is already being hyped as one of the most compelling storylines of the 2025 NBA Summer League ā not just for basketball reasons, but for the media spotlight each young star carries. Bronny James, the son of NBA icon LeBron James, has been in the spotlight for years. Although selected 55th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Lakers, he saw limited action in his rookie season, averaging just 2.3 points over 6.7 minutes in 27 NBA games.
Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks speaks to the media after being drafted first overall during the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 25, 2025.
However, Bronny impressed in the G-League with the South Bay Lakers, where he averaged 21.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists across 11 appearances. That development earned him another chance to prove himself on the Lakersā Summer League roster, and fans are eager to see how he performs with a full offseason under his belt.
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On the other side, Cooper Flagg enters Summer League as the most talked-about prospect in years. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg was selected by the Dallas Mavericks after a sensational freshman season at Duke. The 6-foot-9 forward led the Blue Devils in nearly every major statistical category, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks over 37 games. Despite an ankle injury that kept him out of part of the ACC Tournament, Flagg returned strong in the NCAA Tournament and posted 27 points in Dukeās Final Four loss to Houston.
Garnettās enthusiasm is nothing new when it comes to either player. On his podcast with Paul Pierce, Garnett praised Flaggās game and charisma, saying, āWe aināt had no bada, cold a white boy like this in a long time.ā Heās also been vocal in support of Bronny James, especially during his standout G-League performances last season.
The Lakers-Mavericks game is part of an opening-night doubleheader that also features the San Antonio Spurs vs. Philadelphia 76ers, headlined by top prospects Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe. All 30 NBA teams will compete in the 11-day Summer League event, which once again promises to offer a first look at the leagueās future stars.
