NBA training camp doesn’t start until the end of this month. But as early as now, 2025 NBA Draft No.1 overall pick Cooper Flagg is already trying out his fit with his new teammates — virtually, that is.
According to NBA 2K Director of Digital Content Strategy Ronnie Singh, also known as Ronnie 2K to the video game’s followers, the Dallas Mavericks‘ prized rookie told him that he was using the latest edition of the iconic video game to see how he would look playing alongside Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis.
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“I’ve been talking to Cooper Flagg a lot the last couple of weeks, and he’s already trying to shape up how he’s going to fit into that team by playing the NBA 2K26 game with him, integrated with Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis,” Singh said. “He might not get to play with Kyrie for a minute, so it’s kind of cool that he gets to simulate that, see how the off-the-ball movement is. Our AI is so good. It really simulates the authentic experience of being on the court.”
As true-to-life as the game has ever been
The NBA 2K26 video game was released globally earlier this month. As with its previous two versions, it has the ProPLAY feature, which uses actual NBA footage to capture the signature moves and distinct movements of specific players and provides thousands of realistic animations. So, the NBA 2K26 game gameplay is not just smoother, cleaner, and more responsive, but it’s also as lifelike as it’s ever been.
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“Everybody on the internet is talking about it, the game is playing faster, it’s smoother,” Singh added. “Small details like catch-and-shoot animations are refined, pick-and-rolls look beautiful, and the MyCareer mode shows just how far you can go. Players love the City and Park games in a consolidated area. It’s the best of all worlds for modes, and we’re very excited about it.”
While gamers love the new upgrades for a better gaming experience, Flagg thinks it’s a brilliant way to get to know his teammates better before meeting them and knowing what it feels like to be on the basketball court with them.
Many say Coop is the real deal
Flagg has already gotten a taste of NBA action during the Las Vegas Summer League, where he appeared in two games and averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game in 31.4 minutes of playing time. However, since Cooper is expected to slot into a starting role with the team right away, he’s pretty excited about playing the team’s superstar players.
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However, while Flagg is going to be on the court with Davis real soon, he won’t be able to play alongside Irving until at least the halfway mark of the season. Although we’ve seen recent videos of him in shooting drills, Kyrie is still recovering from an ACL injury and is expected to miss the early part of the season.
There has been plenty of hype surrounding Flagg, and after watching him in the Summer League, many say he is the real deal. However, perhaps more than just his exceptional all-around skills, Coop’s work ethic will be scrutinized, especially after what happened to Luka Doncic.
Flagg, however, getting creative by using NBA2K to prepare for his rookie year when he should still be enjoying, shows how serious and excited he is to get started.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.