Duke Just Picked Its Best NBA Summer League Player — And It’s Not Cooper Flagg originally appeared on Athlon Sports. While many eyes are on Dallas Mavericks rookie forward Cooper Flagg amid the 2025 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, he's not the only former Duke Blue Devils star attracting attention.

Eyes will be on No. 1 draft pick Cooper Flagg and his Dallas Mavericks this July as his highly anticipated professional career begins. Flagg & Co. kicked off their summer league slate with a high-profile 87-85 win over a Los Angeles Lakers squad that features Bronny James.

By now, NBA fans should know to be wary of drawing too many definitive conclusions from Las Vegas Summer League. The sample sizes are small, the practice time is limited, and roster are often missing key pieces (like pass-first point guards) that help lineup constructions fall into place.