Cooper Flagg’s arrival at the Dallas Mavericks injected much-needed confidence into the team after a season plagued by injuries. Despite being just 18 years old, fans have high expectations, looking to him to emerge as the offensive leader and showcase his talent from the outset. However, his debut did attract some criticism. Addressing this, head coach Jason Kidd shared insights on Flagg‘s performance in his Summer League debut.
“When you have someone like Cooper, who can handle, who can shoot, who can pass, you want the ball in his hands. He’s a great decision-maker. He did that at Duke. He did that at high school. He’s going to have some mistakes. We all did. We all threw it in the stands once in a while. But I think just his poise as an 18-year-old is incredible,” Jason Kidd said, via ESPN.
In the game against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2025 NBA Summer League, Cooper managed to score 10 points in the first half of the game. However, he failed to score in the second half, raising many doubts about his true potential. Despite this, assistant head coach Josh Broghamer highlighted his good technical level, highlighting his commitment on defense and winning plays that normally go unnoticed.
Even Mavericks veteran Kyrie Irving spoke about Cooper Flagg’s debut. “It was incredible [watching Flagg play]. Great team win. What can I say? Put the best foot forward, Coop got his first game out the way, a lot of guys got the jitters out. Looking forward to Game 2 coming up soon,” he said, via Dallas Mavericks X account, formerly Twitter.
DJ Steward #27 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives against Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first half of a 2025 NBA Summer League
Judging Cooper Flagg’s debut by just his stats can be misleading, as he is still growing as a player. The Summer League is great for getting used to high-level play, but it does not fully show how a player is developing. Mavs’ head coach Jason Kidd made it clear from the start: Flagg is not expected to lead the offense right away. Instead, he gets to learn from the team’s seasoned veterans.
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In addition, Cooper realizes he can offer more to the team, though finding his groove is not easy. Take Kobe Bryant, for instance. The Lakers icon averaged just 7.6 points in his rookie year. It took him three seasons to average over 20 points per game, but once he did, he maintained that for 14 straight years. His journey shows that great players take time to develop.
Kobe’s journey mirrors Kidd’s vision for Flagg: foster patience, encourage development, and instill a work ethic. His talent is clear from the start, but surrounding him with experienced players is key to unlocking his potential. Mavericks’ head coach continuously asks for patience, confident that with the right support, Cooper will reach great heights.
