By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: 01:36 BST, 11 July 2025 | Updated: 01:36 BST, 11 July 2025
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Cooper Flagg [strolled into UNLV´s Thomas and Mack Center](https://x.com/WillieGRamirez/status/1943450426621464905) at 4:17 p.m. on Thursday, wearing Dallas Mavericks gear, bright white New Balance shoes, and an emotionless look on his face as he passed through security.
Roughly 45 minutes later, he wore the same stone-cold face as he came out for warmups shortly after 5 p.m. at the NBA Summer League.
His fans more than made up for it with plenty of energy, electrifying the jam-packed arena that went cheered loudest when he was announced as a starter.
Flagg missed his first two attempts of the game, and picked up his first foul just 46 seconds into the game.
Also a fan favorite, Bronny James buried his first attempt, over Flagg, and followed after Flagg's second miss with a 3-pointer to give the Lakers a 5-0 lead.
Flagg scored his first basket at the 4:30 mark, and followed with a mid-range fadeaway as he fell to the floor.
Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, takes questions during an NBA basketball press conference at the team's practice facility, Friday, June 27, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Generally filled with Lakers fans when the team plays in the summer, the arena was full of emotion with a fair share of Mavericks fans in attendance to see the 2025 National college player of the year.
Like 15-year-old Baer Epple, 15, who was seated with his father Chad in the third row from the court, donning a Mavericks jersey.
Epple said he´s been following Flagg since before his Duke days, beginning with his junior year at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, Maine.
The 15-year-old who is in Las Vegas from Seattle for an AAU tournament said he´s been a Mavericks fan for roughly four years.
"Even more of a fan now that they got Cooper Flagg," Epple said. "Hopefully he does good, that´d be pretty cool to see. I don´t want him to be like a bust or anything."
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd told The Associated Press before the game he´s looking for nothing more than effort and grit in his team´s opening game, as he wants them all playing hard.
"This summer league is a little different when you have this type of turnout," Kidd said. "But the guys have had a couple practices. There´s going to be some turnovers. I just want to see how they respond to a couple of mistakes being made, no one´s gonna play a perfect game and be unselfish."
As for his prize draft pick: "We´re all excited," Kidd said of Flagg. "Seen enough of him on tape, so now it´s good to see him on the floor."
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