Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg has already turned heads in his first two NBA 2K26 Summer League games. The main takeaways from his early showings offer a glimpse into his potential and could help shape expectations for his fantasy basketball value in the 2025-26 season.

Dallas Mavericks No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg is already facing some lofty expectations, and another major comparison recently came his way.

The 19-year-old guard recorded a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds) along with four assists, a block, and a steal in 6 minutes of action. He was the game's leading scorer right behind teammate KJ Simpson, who logged 18 points and seven assists. Both Flagg and Knueppel had standout freshmen seasons at Duke last year.

Cooper Flagg Will Be a 'Better Scorer Than Kevin Garnett,' Predicts NBA Analyst originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Harrison then reiterated that the team doesn’t want Irving to rush back onto the court. While Irving’s out, key players like D’Angelo Russell (who attended Monday’s Mavericks-Hornets summer league game) will be expected to step up and run the offense.

Cooper Flagg’s official player rating for NBA 2K 26 is an 82, and following the reveal, Flagg shared his thoughts on his official rating. “I’m very happy with that,” Flagg said. “I’ve been playing 2K for a while so that’s a very generous rating.”

Cooper Flagg was faced with a challenge the first day on the job by head coach Jason Kidd. In his first game, he proved he was up for the challenge.