Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green had thoughts after the Dallas Mavericks’ move.
Draymond Green Takes Clear Stance After Cooper Flagg News originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Cooper Flagg’s NBA Summer League debut was one of the most anticipated events of the offseason. Drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks, the 18-year-old phenom came into the league with enormous expectations following his standout year at Duke. Fans and analysts alike were eager to see how Flagg would transition to the pro level.
His first outing against the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t go as planned—Flagg scored just 10 points on 5-of-21 shooting, although his hustle plays, including a crucial block, helped Dallas secure a narrow 87-85 win. He quickly bounced back in his second game, dropping 31 points, while shooting 50% from the field in just 31 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs.
That dominant performance was enough for the Mavericks, who made the surprising decision to shut Flagg down for the remainder of Summer League to prioritize his long-term development. However, that move didn’t go unnoticed as the NBA world gave mixed reactions to the news.
Just days after the announcement, Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green posted on threads:
“I find it very interesting that players get bashed for ‘load management’ but rookies get shut down during summer league these days… 🤔🤔 fascinating eh?”
The Mavericks are shutting down Cooper Flagg for the remainder of the NBA summer league, sources confirmed to @espn_macmahon. pic.twitter.com/QR8DBHmDtO
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 13, 2025
While Green didn’t mention Flagg by name, his post came just days after the ex-Duke star was shut down. His comments pointed to the league’s ongoing dialogue around load management and the double standards often placed on veteran stars. For Green, the Mavericks' decision to sit their rookie after two games appeared contradictory to the scrutiny older players face when resting.
Dallas, however, seems focused on protecting its future cornerstone. Flagg now heads into his rookie year as a central figure on a revamped Mavericks squad that includes Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
