Image Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

Mavericks Shut Down Cooper Flagg Following Statement Game Against Spurs

Dallas Mavericks have shut down Cooper Flagg after his dominant performance against the Spurs

Image Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images

The Dallas Mavericks, led by rookie sensation Cooper Flagg, have had a roller-coaster start to the NBA Summer League campaign. The franchise has now decided to pull the plug on Flagg’s further participation in the tournament.

On Sunday evening, the Mavericks officially shut down the former Duke Blue Devils player. This after he took the game against the San Antonio Spurs by storm. However, Cooper Flagg’s first outing in Mavericks colors left much to be desired.

He quickly bounced back with a standout display against the Spurs in his second appearance. The 18-year-old carried the Mavericks’ offense single-handedly, consistently finding the basket under pressure.

Coop and Bronny having a laugh 😂

What do you think they're talking about? 👀 pic.twitter.com/P2gyIjLSUB
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 11, 2025

But the San Antonio Spurs came out on top, as a one-man show by Flagg wasn’t enough for the Mavericks. They lost by 76-69 in the end. Cooper Flagg went on to score 31 points with 10-21 from the field, while he managed to convert three out of nine shots from beyond the arc.

That performance came just days after Flagg himself called his debut ‘the worst game of my life.’ This was against the Los Angeles Lakers, where he scored only 10 points. But the Mavericks won it by 87-85.

Dallas Ends Cooper Flagg’s Summer League After ‘Ready’ Signal

The Mavericks’ management has pulled the plug on Cooper Flagg’s further participation in the NBA Summer League. Many within the Mavericks and around the league believe they’ve seen enough to confirm Flagg’s readiness for a vital role in next season’s rotation.

Shutting down top draft picks early in Summer League is a long-standing franchise strategy to avoid injury risks. Teams have done it season after season to protect their players from any untoward injury. All it requires for the coaches to analyze if the player is ready and in the shape to contribute to the active roster.

Once that decision is made, then the respective players are shut down. Cooper Flagg will now be seen in action during first team pre-season return.