If there was a game generating buzz, it was the Dallas Mavericks versus Los Angeles Lakers matchup in the NBA Summer League, as it promised a “dream duel” featuring Cooper Flagg and Bronny James as the main attractions.
This marked the first time Cooper Flagg donned the Mavs jersey, while on the other side was the player striving to carry on his father’s legacy in the league.
Cooper Flagg’s first taste of the NBA… A complete nightmare
In this game, the two rising stars didn’t take long to face off. Bronny James challenged Flagg less than a minute into the game, and the former Duke Blue Devils standout could do nothing to stop an elegant fadeaway shot from the Lakers player, giving them an early 2-0 lead.
But it didn’t end there-Bronny then sank a three-pointer over Flagg‘s defense.
Cooper Flagg won nearly every individual award available during his college basketball season last year and was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by Dallas in the most recent NBA Draft.
Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, was chosen in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft and is looking to improve on his 2.3 points per game average from limited minutes last season.
The arrival of Cooper Flagg also comes after Luka Donicic, who was the biggest idol of the franchise for fans, was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal that shocked the basketball world. In his place comes a player regarded as a generational talent capable of changing the course of the Dallas Mavericks franchise.
Now, the question is whether the Duke-formed player can handle the NBA’s pressure and shine in what is considered a different beast altogether. The NBA Summer League is the first step toward his debut season, where he’s sure to be the favorite to win Rookie of the Year.
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