Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, made his Summer League debut on Thursday for the Dallas Mavericks in an 87–85 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. And while it was an uneven performance—one of the worst of his life if you ask the man himself—it was immediately apparent how other teams in the league are viewing the 18-year-old phenom out of Duke: with the utmost respect.
During a halftime interview with ESPN's Malika Andrews, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd pointed out the Lakers' defensive strategy towards Flagg, which he viewed as a sign of "respect."
"His poise as an 18-year-old is incredible."@malika_andrews gets Jason Kidd's first impressions of Cooper Flagg in his summer league debut 👀 pic.twitter.com/E7KW6LwCLb
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"... I thought the Lakers sent a double team on the first play of the game," Kidd said. "I think that's out of respect."
Indeed, Flagg, whom Kidd and Mavericks Summer League coach Josh Broghamer implored to operate as the Mavericks' point-forward of sorts, saw defensive pressure from the very first time he touched the ball, as he was trapped by the Lakers at half-court. Los Angeles kept the defensive pressure on Flagg throughout.
The Lakers' physicality and defensive pressure are likely sneak peeks at how the league may approach Flagg, one of the most vaunted rookies to ever enter the NBA, during the remainder of the Summer League and in his rookie season.
Flagg and the Mavericks are back in action on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. ET against the San Antonio Spurs.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as How Jason Kidd Thinks Lakers Showed Cooper Flagg 'Respect' During Summer League Debut.
