If the $70 million contract and shoe deal didn’t assist, Cooper Flagg ought to relaxation straightforward understanding he’s nowhere close to the primary (or final) to have an evening to overlook in Las Vegas.
Flagg debuted with the Dallas Mavericks within the NBA Summer time League on Thursday evening and walked off the ground anxious to get to his second skilled recreation on Saturday afternoon.
“Less than my customary, however I’m going to regroup; I’m going to be all proper,” Flagg advised ESPN postgame. “This can be a new feeling, new setting, new teammates, however the guys settled down.”
In 32 minutes, Flagg had 10 factors, six rebounds and 4 assists. Dallas held on to beat the Los Angeles Lakers when Bronny James abused the backboard on a missed game-winner try. Flagg was simply 5-for-21 from the ground and went scoreless within the second half.
The star of the present for the Mavericks was really former Gonzaga guard Ryan Nembhard, who scored 21 factors. Cole Swider led all scorers with 22 factors to go together with 10 rebounds.
After all, neither of these fellas are going to be branded on the marquee of their house metropolis and past the way in which Flagg is that this season. His customary gained’t change, and we’re 100% behind Jason Kidd that the anomaly was not every little thing we already know and recognize about Flagg’s recreation—however the Thursday dud in Sin Metropolis. Bear in mind, the lad is eighteen years outdated, supercharged Duke to the Closing 4 as a freshman and famously went downhill towards Staff USA in scrimmages earlier than the Paris Olympics final summer time.
For those who’re reducing a private outlook on Flagg, this could be akin to punting Paul Skenes after a loss, parting with Shohei Ohtani after just a few strikeouts or ditching Caleb Williams for throwing a pick-6.
Peek past the field rating and apply a smidgen of context, and it’s simpler to understand what Flagg brings to the NBA flooring.
“I feel when you’ve got somebody like Cooper who can deal with, who can shoot, who can move, you need the ball in his fingers,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd stated at halftime of the Thursday recreation in an ESPN TV interview. “He’s an important decision-maker. He did that at Duke and likewise in highschool. So, you get to see it tonight. He’s going to have some errors. All of us did; all of us threw it within the stands occasionally, however I feel simply his poise as an 18-year-old is unbelievable.”
Flagg will get one other go at it Saturday afternoon in a 4 p.m. ET recreation towards No. 2 general decide Dylan Harper of the Spurs, adopted by a Monday night (6:30 ET) run with the Charlotte Hornets.
Cross your Flagg inventory this route in case you’re now not shopping for his upside.