The Dallas Mavericks are getting an early look at No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, and the rookie has already started making waves in the Summer League. After a slow debut, Flagg bounced back in a big way—enough to earn praise from one of the NBA‘s greats, Shaquille O’Neal.
Flagg’s highly anticipated first appearance came against the Los Angeles Lakers, where he faced off with Bronny James. Despite the hype, the former Duke standout struggled, finishing with just 10 points. After the game, Flagg didn’t shy away from critiquing his own performance.
“I would say that might be one of the worst games of my life. We got the win, so that’s what really matters to me… Shots weren’t falling, but that’s going to happen,” Flagg said after the Mavericks’ victory, per Joey Mistretta.
In his second outing, however, Flagg looked far more comfortable, scoring 31 points in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs. That performance was enough for Dallas to shut him down for the remainder of the Summer League, as reported by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks against the San Antonio Spurs in the second half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Speaking at a charity event for his foundation in Dallas, Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal shared his support for Flagg’s landing spot. The four-time NBA champion believes the Mavericks are the perfect environment for the rookie’s development.
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“Great young man. I know both his parents very, very well,” O’Neal said, via Sports Illustrated. “Everything about this city, this organization, it’s going to be the right place. And then we’ll give him time to develop. We all remember Dirk [Nowitzki] wasn’t Dirk when he first got here. I think this is a great organization, a great town for him to start off his NBA career”.
Flagg’s arrival in Dallas comes at a pivotal time for the franchise. The Mavericks‘ front office, led by General Manager Nico Harrison, made headlines earlier in the offseason by trading Luka Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. The controversial move sparked backlash from the fanbase, who questioned the long-term direction of the team.
While many fans are still trying to process the decision to move on from Doncic, Flagg’s arrival has offered a glimmer of optimism. The 18-year-old is expected to form a new core alongside Davis and Klay Thompson. Once Kyrie Irving returns from injury, the Mavericks hope to field a high-powered offense capable of competing at the highest level.
