Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper squared off for the primary time as NBA gamers on Saturday, and the matchup delivered on its billing. The highest two picks within the 2025 NBA Draft shared the ground in entrance of a sold-out crowd on the Thomas & Mack Middle, giving followers a glimpse of what could turn out to be one of many league’s subsequent nice rivalries.
Harper’s Spurs got here away with the 76-69 win, however each gamers had moments that confirmed why they had been chosen on the high of the draft. Flagg completed with a game-high 31 factors for the Dallas Mavericks. Regardless of taking part in on a minutes restriction, Harper added 16 factors, six rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block in simply 20 minutes in his first Summer season League motion.
“Not a greater time to come back again [than] in a sport like this and a crowd as electrifying as this,” Harper mentioned. “He had an excellent sport. I had an excellent sport. We sort of simply confirmed the NBA world what we’re about.”
Electrical Setting, Measured Begin
The excitement within the constructing was obvious earlier than tipoff. The matchup introduced out NBA veterans, executives, and celebrities, starting from Jason Sudeikis, Cedric the Entertainer, Allen Iverson, Victor Wembanyama, and even fellow rookie Ace Bailey—all seated court-side.
Harper, making his debut after lacking the Spurs’ first two Summer season League video games with a minor groin harm, opened the scoring 45 seconds into the sport with a drive to the basket.
Each Flagg and Harper began slowly. Every shot 1 of 4 within the opening quarter, as San Antonio took a 21-11 lead. However one second signaled what the group got here to see: with 4.1 seconds left within the first quarter, the 2 matched up one-on-one. Harper stepped right into a 24-foot step-back three over Flagg. The shot missed, however the crowd rose to its ft.
Flagg Finds a Rhythm, Harper Delivers Highlights
Cooper Flagg, who shot simply 5 of 21 in his Summer season League debut, was much more environment friendly in his second outing. The No. 1 total decide shot 10 of 21 from the sphere and went 8 of 13 from the free-throw line, regardless of dealing with bodily protection from Spurs rookie Carter Bryant.
“I feel it’s a brand new atmosphere, new setting,” Flagg mentioned. “They wish to see me be aggressive and try this kind of stuff. I feel I did that rather a lot higher at present, simply attending to the road, getting fouled, and that helped me to get snug and get settled in early. Nonetheless missed a bunch of free throws. I do know my mother in all probability wasn’t very proud of that.”
Flagg scored in a wide range of methods — together with a fast-break dunk, floaters, and laborious drives to the basket — and likewise registered 4 rebounds, one block and one help. His most spectacular stretch got here late within the third quarter. After changing a driving layup by means of full-court stress to chop the result in 10, Flagg threw down a one-handed dunk over Riley Minix after which raced again to dam Minix’s halfcourt heave on the buzzer.
“He simply continues to make the precise performs,” Mavericks summer season league coach Josh Broghamer mentioned. “Whether or not it’s a drive by the man pressuring him or we had been utilizing him a little bit bit extra as a curler and off the ball a few instances simply to get him some simpler catches so he wasn’t working so laborious to deliver the ball up the ground, he simply continues to make the precise performs, which is at all times nice to see.”
Harper made probably the most of his restricted minutes. The 6-foot-5 guard’s power and athleticism had been felt instantly. Late within the second quarter, he soared in from the weak facet to dam Ryan Nembhard’s layup try, sending his Spurs teammates right into a frenzy courtside. Seconds later, Harper scored an and-1 floater over Flagg, giving San Antonio a 33-32 halftime lead.
“[Harper] was nice, and also you felt his impression,” Spurs summer season league coach Mike Noyes mentioned. “The stints had been a little bit bit brief he would say. He hasn’t performed a sport in a very long time. So, we tried to handle that correctly. When he was on the market, he was taking part in laborious, making the precise play.”
A Glimpse at a Budding NBA Rivalry
Whereas Flagg had the scoring edge, Harper’s all-around contributions and the win gave San Antonio the early edge in what may turn out to be a long-running battle between two rising stars.
“We’re going to play them rather a lot this yr,” Harper mentioned. “The longer term battles are going to be nice. One factor that we’ve each bought — we’re simply opponents. We’re going to exit and compete.”
Flagg, in the meantime, continued to indicate progress in a brand new lead ballhandling position for Dallas. By way of two video games, he has dedicated simply three whole turnovers whereas bringing the ball up in opposition to full-court stress on almost each possession.
“I’m exhausted,” Flagg mentioned. “I’m not used to bringing the ball up like that — bringing it up full courtroom and having someone on my hip for 94 ft. However I assumed I did a strong job of bringing it up in opposition to stress.”
Broghamer famous Flagg’s effectivity, even amid fatigue, praising him for limiting his turnovers regardless of a setting that permits defenders to foul as much as 10 instances per sport earlier than fouling out. The circumstances function a chance for Flagg to get accustomed to extra aggressive ball stress than he’ll draw throughout precise NBA competitors whereas he handles level guard duties.
“Three turnovers in two video games — I can’t commend him sufficient on that,” Broghamer mentioned. “It’s not simple when guys are throughout you each journey down the ground.”
What’s Subsequent?
The Spurs improved to 2-0 in Summer season League play and can face the Utah Jazz on Monday. The Mavericks dropped to 1-1 and can tackle the Charlotte Hornets of their subsequent sport. It stays to be seen how far more Flagg or Harper will play in Summer season League, however regardless, they every displayed why they’re nearly as good as marketed at Thomas & Mack Middle.
Although it’s nonetheless early in each gamers’ careers, Saturday’s sport hinted at a matchup that might outline the following era of NBA basketball. And from their first conflict, it’s clear they each need the problem.
