“That might’ve been one of the worst games of my life,” admitted Cooper Flagg last Thursday night. “But we got the win, so that’s what really matters to me.” A brutally honest takeaway from the 18-year-old basketball prodigy after his first Las Vegas Summer League game — and a revealing glimpse into what drives him.
The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, selected by the Dallas Mavericks after a quick but electric year at Duke, didn’t exactly flop in his debut, even if his words suggested otherwise. Sure, his shooting struggled, but the flashes of playmaking brilliance and defensive dominance were impossible to ignore. Aware of the spotlight, Flagg attacked the game with intensity — hunting shots and trying to put on a highlight-reel show with every dunk attempt.
Then came the bounce-back: 31 points in his second — and final — Summer League game on Saturday. That performance was fireworks. But it was still his earlier comment that told the real story: Cooper Flagg is a born winner.
The hype began in Maine, where Flagg made history as the first freshman to ever win the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year. He later transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida to chase tougher competition — and the accolades just kept rolling in: McDonald’s All-American, Gatorade National Player of the Year, and USA Basketball’s Male Athlete of the Year, making him the youngest to ever claim that honor since 1980.
From the jump, Flagg was being compared to legends like Kevin Garnett and Jayson Tatum — and for good reason. His two-way versatility, relentless work ethic, and grind mentality pushed him to reclassify twice — first to reach college early, then to jump into the NBA Draft even faster.
In a 2024 profile, The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann described the 6’9", 205-lb Flagg as “running toward the grind.” That same sentiment was echoed in Vegas this week by veteran Mavericks insider Tim Cato. “What really stands out about Cooper is that he’s always ascending,” said Cato. “He quotes his mom a lot — ‘If you’re the best player in the gym, you need to find a new gym.’ And that drive shows up in everything he does.”
That obsessive commitment to growth has made Flagg unusually polished and composed for his age. He’s not a loud personality like Anthony Edwards, and he doesn’t have the raw edge of a Kevin Garnett. There’s no bravado, no “face of the league” swagger — just laser focus. After his explosive second game, when asked what he dreams of for his NBA career, his response was textbook humility:
“I’m not getting too far ahead of myself. I’m just focused on each day and getting better. I know I’ve got a long way to go.”
Cato nodded to that mindset, saying, “That kind of focus defines Cooper — sometimes almost to a fault. He’ll even say he’s not into music. It’s like he lives and breathes basketball 24/7.”
Still, if Cooper Flagg ends up being a Tatum-level player, that’s a monster win. A top-five talent who’s just a year removed from leading his team to an NBA championship? Not a bad path. And considering Flagg grew up a Celtics fan, it’s one he’d probably be thrilled with.
But some believe he could go even higher. One NBA executive told me: “Flagg was the most skilled and hardest-working prospect in either of his Summer League games. Honestly, he’s got a real case as the most complete 18-year-old since LeBron James.”
It wasn’t just one skill that turned heads — it was the whole package: the aggression, the calm under pressure, the defensive instincts, the athleticism, the size, the court IQ. He’s a rare blend — and he’s coming fast.
Come October, expect Cooper Flagg to make his regular-season debut not as a project — but as a ready-made weapon with superstar upside. For a Dallas Mavericks team still recovering from the Luka Dončić drama, this might just be their lottery ticket finally cashed in.