The most sought-after pass on the inaugural day of the NBA Las Vegas Summer League certainly justified the significant cost, as the Dallas Mavericks clinched an 87-85 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday during the premiere of top draft pick Cooper Flagg. The former Duke player concluded with 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists when matched against Bronny James’ Lakers.
“It’s a notably distinct game,” Flagg mentioned to the ESPN broadcast afterward. “Different tempo, varied ambiance, altered spacing. Requires quite a bit of adaptation, but we’ll manage just fine.”
Generally, the headline match on the opening evening of the summer league presents the No. 1 and No. 2 selections from the draft engaging each other; however, this year diverged. The NBA arranged a competition with Flagg confronting the offspring of the league’s all-time highest point scorer, LeBron James.
The anticipation for this game was immense. According to TickPick, passes to witness Flagg’s summer league debut achieved unparalleled pricing within the event’s chronology, with lower section seats demanding $650, and courtside spots reaching $2,500. Fans present initiated queuing at 5:45 a.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center within Sin City to guarantee their position.
Flagg encountered his “initiation to the NBA” instance mere moments after the game commenced. Following Dallas’s triumph in the opening tip, he was swarmed by a pair of defenders while attempting to establish the offense. Subsequently, he failed on his initial pair of attempts before executing a forceful one-handed slam in transition for his initial scores.
Mavericks’ strategist Jason Kidd indicated that Flagg would accumulate repetitions throughout the summer league functioning as the primary initiator and ball distributor. A crucial area of enhancement for Flagg throughout his singular season at Duke centered around his capacity to generate his own shot within a half-court configuration. In spite of only converting 5 of 21 attempts from the field on Thursday and failing to secure a field goal during the latter half, Flagg consistently positioned himself effectively.
With Flagg’s profoundly awaited showdown with the younger James now concluded, presented below are several key insights gleaned from the game.
Flagg will ultimately refine his shooting
Upon scrutinizing the box score, you might observe Flagg’s unimpressive numbers from the field: a 5-for-21 shooting record, a 0-for-5 record from 3-point range, and a 0-for-1 record from the free-throw line. As previously indicated, the majority of these shot attempts transpired within the midrange zone. This constituted a hallmark of Flagg’s gameplay at Duke, where he would overpower smaller defenders and establish himself within the post. His shot was off on Thursday, but this should not induce excessive apprehension moving forward.
“Subpar by my personal gauge,” Flagg acknowledged on the broadcast. “Unfamiliar sentiment, fresh environment, budding colleagues… I underperformed, but I’m simply resolved to persevere.”
What Flagg did showcase throughout his summer league introduction aligned with the understanding college basketball followers previously possessed. He proved to be an underestimated playmaker at Duke, continuously executing sound assessments within the dynamics of the offense. This summer ought to be regarded as a period of experimentation for Flagg as he develops more point guard expertise.
“I believe when possessing an individual like Cooper, capable of handling, shooting, and passing, the desire is to entrust the ball to him. His decision-making is exceptional. He displayed this aptitude at Duke, as well as during his high school tenure.” Kidd communicated to the ESPN broadcast. “Mistakes are inevitable; we all commit them. We’ve all inadvertently thrown the ball into the stands at times. However, his composure as an 18-year-old is astounding.”
A favorable element is Flagg conceding possession solely on one occasion (during the fourth quarter) while accumulating 32 minutes of playtime. This stands as an encouraging indicator. Furthermore, he registered a decisive block within the closing two minutes, which subsequently enabled an assist on Ryan Nembhard’s go-ahead basket.
An Assertive, Confident Bronny
Following a lackluster performance in his recent summer league contest during the California Classic earlier this week, James presented as a transformed player. Not only did he exude assurance, but he additionally exhibited amplified aggression on both ends of the court. James successfully executed a step-back jumper over Flagg, accounting for the Lakers’ initial scores, and subsequently struck a 3-pointer on his team’s ensuing possession.
James was also positioned (at times) in opposition to Flagg defensively, and despite his notably smaller frame, he did not shrink from the challenge. James’s involvement diminished during the stretch run; however, his assertiveness demonstrated throughout the initial half represents a foundation upon which he can construct throughout the remainder of the event and into the subsequent season, irrespective of whether that entails participation within the NBA or the G League.
James misfired on a long-range 3-pointer, delivered with less than a second remaining, which would have secured the victory for the Lakers. He concluded with eight points, two rebounds, and two assists across 21 minutes.
Nembhard might prove to be an overlooked asset
One of the more surprising occurrences during Day 2 of the draft centered around Ryan Nembhard, the younger sibling of Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, not being selected. Nonetheless, it appears he has integrated seamlessly into a favorable situation with the Mavericks. Dallas possesses a clear necessity for a supporting point guard as Kyrie Irving recuperates from a torn ACL, with offseason acquisition D’Angelo Russell anticipated to assume the starting role.
Should Nembhard replicate his performance witnessed throughout his summer league introduction, he might effectively place himself in consideration for that position. He emerged as the standout performer on the court, amassing 21 points, five assists, and one steal. He embodies a player seldom prone to mistakes, and this specific brand of stability constitutes precisely what Dallas requires.
