Bronnie James and the Los Angeles Lakers launched the 2025 Las Vegas Summer season League marketing campaign with a loss.
This was a extremely anticipated conflict due to the presence of the No. 1 general choose within the 2025 NBA draft, Cooper Flag.
It was an in depth sport, however the Flag and the Dallas Mavericks recorded an 87-85 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.
After the sport, Lakers’ Bronnie James was requested about his trustworthy thought of competing with Flag for the primary time in his profession.
Because it’s the highest choose within the draft, followers clearly hope that Flag will at some point grow to be an NBA famous person.
Nevertheless, that is a long-term aim, as Flag hasn’t translated NCAA abilities into the NBA but. To start with, Flag made his overwhelming debut within the 2025 NBA Summer season League.
He was defended by anybody apart from James Jr. for many of the sport. Bronnie spoke in regards to the matchup in a post-match interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“I am attempting to save lots of myself as a defensive man. I am not going to be the man to attain now. I am attempting to carry my zero down.
He added: “He is nice, I noticed him in school. An amazing participant. He will be one thing particular.”
| statistics | Bronnie James | Cooper Flag |
| level | 8 | 10 |
| rebound | 2 | 6 |
| help | 2 | 4 |
Like Bronnie, Flag’s Mavericks teammate Kyrie Irving solely praised the highest choose regardless of his leisurely night time on the ground.
Bronnie and Irving praised Flag, however the former Duke star knew he wasn’t his standard self with the Lakers.
Because of this, Flag disagreed with Irving’s reward and dropped a important assessment of his efficiency.
“It is a utterly totally different sport. Totally different tempo, totally different really feel, totally different intervals. It is quite a lot of changes, however we’re fantastic,” Flag stated.
Shifting from the NCAA to the NBA will be difficult, however do not soar to conclusions proper now. In any case, Flagg has loads of video games to seek out his rhythm earlier than the beginning of the common season.
