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“How is that a foul?” – Bronny James' defense on Cooper Flagg in Summer League opener draws NBA fan backlash

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The Summer League has just started. Amid the NBA offseason, fans are now tuning into the Summer League game opener, especially for Bronny James and Cooper Flagg . The Los Angeles Lakers star was seen defending the ball against Mavericks’ rookie Flagg, and there was a foul call from the referee. As the clip of the defensive moment appeared online, fans rushed to social media to share their thoughts on the matter.

Bronny James’ defense against Cooper Flagg sparks reaction

Bronny James has cleared his rookie year with the Los Angeles Lakers, and Cooper Flagg has just landed with the Dallas Mavericks . The future superstars of the league have clashed at the Summer League opener. While Bronny was defending Flagg, he was called for a foul. While he shrugged off the moment with a laugh of surprise, as it appeared a clear steal (and many fans believe), the moment carried some intense reaction with it.


“Bronny clamped that. Ain't no foul,” @PerSources reacted on X.

One Lakers fan (LukaGoat🐐) slammed Flagg, “bro can’t even take Bronny n mavs fans think he better than Luka 😂😂😂😂”

“That wasn’t no foul lol,” @Rashee_longway shared.

“Ain’t no foul 😂” @woods7x reacted.

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Cooper Flagg officially kicked off his NBA journey on Thursday, suiting up for the Dallas Mavericks in their Las Vegas Summer League opener against the Los Angeles Lakers. This marked his first appearance in a Mavericks uniform since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. The pressure was high, with fans eager to see if Flagg could step into the spotlight and help turn around the franchise’s future.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DL8sLpmtp22/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DL8sLpmtp22/


The Mavericks drafted Flagg just weeks after trading away former star Luka Doncic to the Lakers. That move added even more weight to Flagg's debut, as many see him as the centerpiece of Dallas' rebuild. Every possession was under the microscope, especially with the Lakers on the other side of the court.

Flagg, fresh off a strong freshman season at Duke, looked confident early. He scored six points in the opening quarter on 3-of-9 shooting. While he showed flashes of potential, the Lakers defense—led by a hungry Summer League unit—kept him in check. He grabbed just one rebound, with no assists and two early fouls in just under 10 minutes on the court.

Also Read: NBA Free Agency Rumors: Golden State Warriors predicted to land $35,250,000 Toronto Raptors star to Support Stephen Curry in title run

The game was tight heading into halftime, with the Lakers taking a narrow 47-43 lead. Bronny James drew a foul late in the second quarter and hit one of two free throws. Strong finishes from Darius Bazley, Dalton Knecht, and Scotty Pippen Jr. helped the Lakers edge ahead as the half closed. Flagg will need to settle in quickly if he hopes to make a bigger impact in the second half.
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