​Cooper Flagg, the Mavericks’ top pick in the 2025 draft, did not participate in the 2026 NBA Summer League, yet he still turned up to lend his support to his teammates. The Maine native walked into the Thomas & Mack Center to a chorus of cheers that echoed through the arena’s lower bowl. He wasn’t alone, as a sizable Mavericks contingent accompanied him, including Marcus Sasser, Moussa Cissé, Max Christie, and Caleb Martin. In addition, Mavericks president Masai Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz were in attendance to watch the action.
The group was treated to a strong performance from second-year guard Ryan Nembhard, who recorded his first summer league double-double with 15 points and 11 assists. Sophomore forward John Poulidkidas added 14 points as the Mavericks faced a 101-90 defeat to the Warriors on Thursday.
The matchup also featured first-round picks Morez Johnson Jr. for Dallas and Yaxel Lendeborg for Golden State, who had previously captured a national title together at Michigan just a few months earlier. After the game, Lendeborg assumed a quasi-reporter role, firing off questions at his former Michigan teammate.
Two notable takeaways emerged from the night. First, Dallas selected Sergio De Larrea and Morez Johnson with first-round choices in the 2026 NBA draft. Johnson showcased a standout sequence in which he delivered a fadeaway shimmy from the low post reminiscent of Al Jefferson, followed by a backboard-blocked shot on the returning possession against a Warriors opponent. In the second quarter, Nembhard and Johnson began to display the rapport they have developed through a couple of practices. Nembhard found Johnson for a dunk beneath the basket, and even when a shot missed, Johnson swooped in for a second-chance layup after grabbing the rebound.
“I love him already,” Nembhard said about Johnson’s intensity. “He plays so hard on both ends, and he’s going to impact the game in some way, somehow. Whether it’s making shots, pulling down rebounds, blocking shots, or switching every position from 1 through 5.”
Johnson appeared to be the most active Maverick on both ends of the floor, finishing with 27 points and eight rebounds in his first summer league game while starting at center. “I feel like I competed the whole game,” Johnson said. “I don’t know. I just kept playing hard. Things started going my way. That’s how the game goes. You have some lows and you have some highs. You’ve got to stay ready.”
De Larrea showed flashes of excellence as he returned from a lower-leg injury that briefly forced him to leave the game in the first quarter. His secondary playmaking was on display, finishing with five assists and contributing to some effective ball movement. He struggled with outside shooting but did connect on a three-pointer in the third quarter, ending the night with nine points and six rebounds. After the game, De Larrea, who had a wrap on his knee, told DLLS Sports that he had just be— (text cut off)