Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, made his Summer League debut on Thursday for the Dallas Mavericks in an 87–85 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. And while it was an uneven performance—one of the worst of his life if you ask the man himself—it was immediately apparent how other teams in the league are viewing the 18-year-old phenom out of Duke: with the utmost respect.
During a halftime interview with ESPN's Malika Andrews, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd pointed out the Lakers' defensive strategy towards Flagg, which he viewed as a sign of "respect."
