The Dallas Mavericks' Summer League play ended over the weekend, as they lost to the Orlando Magic on Friday and finished with a 2-3 record. Even though Dallas only won two Summer League games, there is plenty to be excited about as a Mavericks fan, including the incredible play of Cooper Flagg and what the future of Mavs basketball looks like with him as a centerpiece.
Flagg played in two Summer League games, one against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday and one against the San Antonio Spurs two days later, and the fact that Dallas shut him down after two games is telling.
The Mavericks clearly didn't need to see anything else from Flagg, and he didn't need to prove anything else to them while in Las Vegas. Dallas found a franchise cornerstone in Flagg, and he already looks like he is going to be the perfect fit on the Mavericks.
Mavericks saw everything they needed to from Cooper Flagg
In Flagg's second Summer League game against the Spurs, he finished with 31 points, four rebounds, and one block while shooting 10-21 from the field and 3-9 from downtown. Even though Flagg's 3-point shooting wasn't as efficient as fans would have hoped in Vegas, he truly dominated the game in all facets and showed how dangerous he can be in year one.
Flagg was getting to the rim and finishing with ease with both hands, drilling shots from the mid-range and downtown, and finishing above the rim with some strong flushes. On the other end of the floor, Flagg struck fear into the eyes of many Spurs players, and his strong perimeter defense combined with his help-side instincts made him someone that San Antonio always had to account for and keep an eye on.
Over two games, Flagg proved why he was the No. 1 overall pick, and the Mavericks shutting him down after two games is a good sign, not a bad one. Summer League is all about seeing how players stack up against other young players around the league while also gauging how NBA-ready your prospects are, and Flagg proved that he is ready to be one of Dallas' stars.
He and Ryan Nembhard are already looking like they are going to be a dominant duo immediately, as they complement each other's game extremely well. Nembhard's passing and vision combined with Flagg's dominant offensive game are going to lead to plenty of open threes for Flagg, and fans got to see their chemistry firsthand in both games.
In the first game against the Lakers, Flagg found Nembhard for the game-winning 3-pointer from the wing, and in the second game against the Spurs, Nembhard found Flagg in transition for an alley-oop slam. Even before Summer League began, Nembhard predicted that his on-court connection with Flagg would be "seamless," and he was exactly right.
Flagg's game is as complete as you'll find for a rookie, and even though he didn't play in the final three games, he continued to work hard in the gym. He is the definition of a gym rat, and him going hard is something that Dallas will never have to worry about.
Anyone who has been around Flagg raves about his work ethic and desire to get better, and that has already been evident as a member of the Mavericks. Even with being busy off the floor in Vegas with different photo shoots and other obligations, Flagg remained locked in on improving his game and being present.
"One thing with Cooper, you don't have to worry about him being in the gym, so I think he's always gonna work and try to get better whether he's playing the games or not," Mavs Summer League head coach Josh Broghamer said. "He does a great job with his work ethic, and then obviously those first two games, he showed what he could do, whether the shots went down, get to his spots, make the right plays, and then defensively impact the game."
League sources indicated that Broghamer has been one of the primary coaches working with Flagg since he arrived in Dallas, and he did an excellent job as the team's Summer League coach. He spoke glowingly of Flagg anytime he was asked about him, and he should help Flagg develop even more as the summer goes on and the regular season approaches.
Flagg's time playing in Summer League was short and sweet, but that's exactly what Mavericks fans should have wanted. He showed the world what he could do while staying healthy, and that's the most fans could have asked for.
