Cooper Flagg, Mavericks
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Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks looks on from the bench in the second half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game.
The NBA training camp is still weeks away, but Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg is already getting a head start on his first season. The 18-year-old, who was the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, has been using the newly released NBA2K26 video game to simulate playing alongside Mavericks stars Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis.
Ronnie Singh, better known as Ronnie2K, the public face and Digital Marketing Director for the NBA 2K franchise, told Heavy Sports during the House of 2K launch in New York City that Flagg is using the game to learn team dynamics before he hits the court.
“I’ve been talking to Cooper Flagg a lot the last couple of weeks, and he’s already trying to shape up how he’s going to fit into that team by playing the NBA2K26 game with him, integrated with Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis,” Singh said. “He might not get to play with Kyrie for a minute, so it’s kind of cool that he gets to simulate that, see how the off-the-ball movement is. Our AI is so good. It really simulates the authentic experience of being on the court.”
Singh added that professional players often have an advantage in the game thanks to their instincts developed in real-life practice.
“I play a lot of NBA players that don’t get to play 2K all the time, and they’re inherently good at the game already because they have a natural instinct of how their teammates are going to move. They see it every day in practice.”
NBA2K26 Brings Enhanced Realism
Released globally on Sept. 5, NBA2K26 introduces the ProPLAY and Dynamic Motion Engine for more realistic player movement, alongside new Adrenaline Boosts, improved Quick Protect controls, and enhanced MyTEAM with NBA/WNBA co-op play. The game also features more detailed MyPLAYER builds, a new Scouting Report, a more immersive City experience, and refined online matchmaking.
“Everybody on the internet is talking about it, the game is playing faster, it’s smoother,” Singh told Heavy Sports. “Small details like catch-and-shoot animations are refined, pick-and-rolls look beautiful, and the MyCareer mode shows just how far you can go. Players love the City and Park games in a consolidated area. It’s the best of all worlds for modes, and we’re very excited about it.”
Flagg’s On-Court Potential
The Mavericks will not see Flagg play alongside Irving until the veteran guard recovers from an ACL injury, but the rookie’s offseason work has already shown his maturity. Dallas, reeling from the trade of Luka Dončić, landed Flagg as a cornerstone for the future, pairing him with Davis and Irving.
During the NBA Summer League, the team experimented with Flagg at point guard. The Duke standout averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 31.4 minutes per game, showcasing versatility across multiple positions.
Flagg’s Rating in NBA2K26
NBA2K26 has given Flagg an overall rating of 82, the highest among rookies this year. He ranks 79th among the top 100 players. Other top rookies start lower: No. 2 pick Dylan Harper at 78, No. 5 pick Ace Bailey at 77, No. 3 pick V.J. Edgecombe at 76, and a tie at fifth between Kon Knueppel and Tre Johnson at 75.
Cooper Flagg, Mavericks
Getty Cooper Flagg of the Dallas Mavericks dunks against Riley Minix of the San Antonio Spurs in the second half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game.
Flagg arrives in the NBA after a standout one-and-done season at Duke, where he lived up to his hype as one of the top collegiate prospects in years. He led the Blue Devils to the Final Four with averages of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, earning multiple accolades, including the Naismith Award, Wooden Award, and AP Player of the Year.
With his on-court skills, maturity, and innovative use of NBA2K26 as a training tool, Cooper Flagg appears ready to make an immediate impact as he begins his professional career with the Mavericks.