It only took 1 game for Cooper Flagg to give Mavs what they've lacked since Finals

While Cooper Flagg may not have wowed with his efficiency in the first NBA Summer League game for the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday evening, there were many ways in which Flagg impacted the game despite having a rough shooting night. Flagg finished with 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block.

Head coach Jason Kidd's notion that Flagg would get to play some point guard was correct from the jump, as Flagg brought the ball up a ton and kept a tight handle in a hectic Summer League environment, as he only had one turnover in 32 minutes of action. While Flagg struggled to create his own shot in space some in his debut, he showcased something the Mavericks haven't had since Derrick Jones Jr. was last on the team during the 2024 NBA Finals, that being elite-level athleticism and defense from the wing position.

Flagg may not be quite the leaper Jones Jr. is (not many are), but he he has great controlled ahtleticism and knows how to contort his body well in mid-air to try and score or secure a rebound. Flagg had a potential game-saving block when rotating from the weak-side late in the game on D.J. Steward, and these are the type of plays he'll be able to make in Dallas from day one, regardless if offense takes a little to come along.

Cooper Flagg is an elite-level athlete from the wing position

To the point of Flagg's controlled athleticism, his first bucket as a Maverick in Summer League was a monstrous one-handed throw-down in transition, as Flagg dribbled nearly three-fourths of the court, only dribbling with his off hand to veer off defenders. Flagg is extremely fast for being 6-foot-9 as well, as he truly has the ideal build and athleticism for a modern-day NBA wing.

Flagg's athleticism was transcendent at times in this game versus the Lakers, as he nearly had one of the best Summer League dunks of all time in the second quarter when trying to posterize Los Angeles' Christian Koloko. It was clear Flagg belongs on the court at the NBA level, even if he ended up shooting 5-21 from the field, as it's almost more impressive that the rest of his game didn't abandon him whatsoever, despite having some rough misses from outside.

Even on some of the few baskets he was able to convert, Flagg was able to rise up seamlessly over defenders when shooting his face-up and turnaround midrange jumpers, so his athleticism is something that trickles to all facets of his game. With other creators on the floor, Flagg will be able to thrive more in transition and within the flow of Dallas' offense as a cutter, which is where he may be most impactful compared to Summer League because of the over-reliance the Mavericks have on him as a secondary creator in this setting.

Fellow rookie Ryan Nembhard did a great job running the show for Dallas in this game and is a coveting prospect to follow, but Flagg's overall impact was easily the second most defining factor in this game, and it will be exciting to see his athleticism translate to the NBA level on both sides of the ball, as the Mavericks severely lacked elite athleticism from the wing position last season with Jones Jr. leaving for the LA Clippers.