Mavs' Cooper Flagg Calls NBA Summer League Debut '1 of the Worst Games of My Life'

Cooper Flagg called his NBA Summer League debut “one of the worst games of my life” after shooting 5-of-21 from the field.

"That might be one of the worst games of my life, but we got the win — so that’s what really matters to me," Flagg told reporters after the game.

Flagg finished with 10 points as the Dallas Mavericks defeated Bronny James and the Los Angeles Lakers 87-85 on Thursday.

In addition to his 10 points, Flagg recorded six rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. The 18-year-old attempted five shots from beyond the arc but failed to connect on any.

"I couldn't really get into a rhythm, it's a different environment, obviously very different from college, it's probably very different from what the real NBA is gonna be like," Flagg said. "The coaches had a lot of confidence in me. They've been telling me they want me to experiment, try some new things, and I was trying to be aggressive, and that's new for me too."

Despite handling a double-team from the Lakers out of the gate with poise, Flagg was clearly shaking off some jitters in his NBA debut. He missed his first two shot attempts and picked up a foul in under a minute.

"I was obviously a little nervous, it's a new environment, a lot of new fans and whatnot," Flagg said. "So I was a little nervous, a little excited, but just happy to be here. It's a dream come true, so I'm just trying to enjoy the moment."

The former Duke standout and No. 1 overall pick electrified the crowd at the 4:30 mark with a full-court slam dunk, scoring his first points in a Mavericks uniform.

Dallas will play again on Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs, with tip-off scheduled for 4 p.m. ET. However, it has yet to be announced if Flagg will play and get a chance to bounce back from his debut.