‘I Just Want to Get Better’: Cooper Flagg is Embracing Summer League Development with Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg knows the expectations. He knows the spotlight doesn’t dim after being selected No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft. But in his first media session following Day 1 of Dallas Mavericks Summer League practice, the 18-year-old sounded calm, grounded, and ready.
“I’m excited,” Flagg said. “I’ve been in the gym with the guys, getting to know them. So I’m excited to just get out there, get back on the court, play, compete, and have fun.”
Flagg, who will make his Summer League debut against the Los Angeles Lakers later this week, enters his first NBA setting after an outstanding freshman season at Duke, where he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while leading the Blue Devils to a 35–3 record and a Final Four run. That combination of production, polish, and poise has Dallas taking a patient but deliberate approach to his development.
“One of the main points of emphasis for all these guys is just be themselves,” Summer League head coach Josh Broghamer said. “That’s how they got here. That’s how they’re going to make it in the league.”
Embracing Experimentation
Despite his accolades, Flagg isn’t being eased in. During Flagg’s introductory press conference last week, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd made it clear that his development will start with a challenge.
“I want to put him at the point guard,” Kidd said. “I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts — being able to run the show, being able to play the two, play the three. He’s comfortable playing that. But we want to push. And I think he’s going to respond in a positive way.”
Flagg welcomed the idea, citing experience handling the ball at Duke under Jon Scheyer.
“Coach Scheyer trusted me a lot last year at Duke, and I handled the ball often in the halfcourt, setting up actions and making plays,” Flagg said. “I think it’s something I can do at a high level, so I’m excited to experiment and do some new things.”
Summer League head coach Josh Broghamer confirmed that Flagg’s reps are being designed with growth in mind—switching across positions, initiating offense, and defending multiple roles.
“He can do so many different things,” Broghamer said. “We’ve had him guard the ball. We’ve had him guard the bigs. Just seeing what he can do and letting him play his brand of basketball, which fits a lot of different areas.”
Flagg has embraced the learning process and credited Kidd for instilling confidence early in his NBA journey.
“Having that kind of confidence from him, just knowing that he trusts me to try some new things… we’ve talked about it,” Flagg said. “He told me, ‘You’re going to go through some failure, but I’m not worried about the mistakes.’ So it’s about pushing through, getting out of my shell, and trying different things on the court.”
Kidd pointed to his past experience working with Giannis Antetokounmpo as a guide to empowering young talent to play through mistakes as they grow their game.
“It is all right to fail. It is all right to turn the ball over,” Kidd said. “From Giannis — giving him the ball, and he failed, but he wanted to come back and have the ball. So I’m excited about giving [Cooper] the ball against the Lakers and seeing what happens. Let’s get it started right off the bat.”
Chemistry in Motion
Flagg has already started to build chemistry with two-way guard Ryan Nembhard, who also made his Mavericks practice debut on Monday. Both players are known for their high IQ and feel for the game, and their connection was evident on Day 1.
“He’s a good dude,” Flagg said of Nembhard. “Super athletic, high energy, and seems to understand the game well. I think it’ll be fun to play with him. I’m excited for that connection.”
Their on-court synergy surfaced quickly during five-on-five scrimmages, where Flagg threw a lob to big man Moussa Cissé, which Broghamer said “nearly touched the top of the backboard.”
“Guys with high IQ and good feel for the game figure out how to play with each other pretty quickly,” Nembhard added. “It’ll be a smooth transition.”
Humble but Competitive
Despite the media attention and lofty expectations, Flagg has demonstrated a quiet relentlessness behind the scenes. Coaches say he’s often one of the first players in the gym—and sometimes has to be told to take a break.
“He’s one of the first guys in the gym,” Broghamer said. “We had to make him sit down on the Fourth of July because he already wanted to be in here working.”
Kidd has previously praised Flagg’s maturity and competitive drive, calling his mindset rare for an 18-year-old entering the league.
“We’re talking about an 18-year-old who has all the right answers and is talking about working out after this,” Kidd said. “His poise — he’s going to be successful for a long time. He likes to work. He’s not afraid to work. And he comes from a great family. So I’m very blessed, and the Mavs are very blessed to have him a part of the family.”
Flagg downplayed individual goals for Summer League, instead emphasizing growth and adaptation.
“I wouldn’t say I have specific goals,” Flagg said. “I just want to go out there and show that I’ve improved, that I’ve gotten better, and just have a strong weekend.”
A City and Style That Fits
Flagg is also beginning to feel at home off the floor. He said Dallas “feels incredible” and that he’s looking forward to exploring the city more. The Mavericks’ emphasis on pace, spacing, and unselfish play appears to be a natural match on the court.
“I think we’ve got a good group of guys that really just want to play the right way and showcase a good brand of basketball,” Flagg said.
While the Mavericks haven’t officially confirmed how many games Flagg will play in Las Vegas, his debut is set for July 10 against the Lakers. The early signs point to something deeper than Summer League box scores. For Flagg, this isn’t about proving he’s the No. 1 pick. It’s about proving he’s ready to work like one.
“I think he just loves to play basketball,” Broghamer said. “And when your top guy wants to be the first one diving into a drill, that’s all you can ask for.”
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