Kyrie Irving couldn’t hold back his excitement following Cooper Flagg’s much-anticipated Summer League debut for the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night in Las Vegas. The Mavs edged out the Lakers 87-85 in a tight matchup, and Irving made sure to show his support.
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, had an all-around performance in his first Summer League appearance. Although his shooting was off (5-of-21 FG, 0-of-5 from three), he still contributed 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block in 32 minutes.
Irving, speaking after the game, acknowledged the team’s collective effort and highlighted how the players handled their first test together.
“It was incredible. Great team win. What more can I say? Put the best foot forward. Coop got his first game out of the way. A lot of guys got the jitters out. Looking forward to Game 2 coming up soon,” Irving said.
The Mavericks, who trailed 47-43 at halftime, turned things around with a dominant third quarter (25-15). Despite a push from the Lakers in the fourth, Dallas held on late. Ryan Nembhard stood out with 21 points, while Miles Kelly chipped in 17.
The team now shifts focus to their next Summer League matchup, set for July 12 against the San Antonio Spurs.
