Cooper Flagg’s NBA future is protected by the Dallas Mavericks’ wise decision. The team has had enough of him after his two games in Vegas.

Unheralded young athletes and underappreciated former college basketball stars have long found success in the NBA Summer League. To demonstrate that they don’t belong in Vegas, however, is the aim of the summer league for elite prospects and second-year players. Cooper Flagg has done that in just two games. The 2025 No. 1 overall pick has shown enough for the Dallas Mavericks to shut him down for the rest of the Summer League and give him time to get ready for the autumn basketball regular season.

Cooper Flagg was shut down by the Mavericks after just two Summer League games. On Thursday night, Flagg made his debut against Bronny James and the Summer League Lakers, which garnered some notice. He finished with 10 points on 5–21 shooting and 0–6 from three-point range in his 32 minutes of play. He still managed to pull down six rebounds, dish out four assists, steal three, and block the ball. Flagg seemed to be readjusting his offensive style against the Lakers, figuring out which of his plays still work against NBA defences. Unlike at the collegiate level, he occasionally appeared uneasy when opponents matched his size and agility. That was squashed on Saturday night, if there was any reason to be concerned.
Flagg scored 31 points on 10-21 from the field and 3-9 from the three-point line in Game 2 against the San Antonio Spurs and Dylan Harper, the second overall pick. He also contributed a block, an assist, and four rebounds. It was his last exhibition before his official NBA debut, and even though it wasn’t the most effective performance and led to a 76-69 loss, it demonstrated his ability to guide a team as a key scorer.
Flagg will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to the NBA during his first campaign. They made that obvious when they selected him first overall, and he hasn’t done anything in Vegas in the last four days to change their minds. Preserving his health for the regular season is the appropriate course of action, particularly for a team that intends to contend for a postseason berth in the NBA’s crowded Western Conference and that coped with a number of ailments following the trade of Luka Doncic last season.
If Kyrie Irving can recover from his torn ACL throughout the season, Dallas will have great hopes. It is not worth the risk to perform a few more reps versus weaker competitors because Flagg is an essential component of the jigsaw.