No one is pressing the panic button following Cooper Flagg’s ho-hum Las Vegas Summer League debut this week, especially former Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Expectations for the No. 1 overall pick aren’t to be an immediate superstar, but that’s a potential that should unfold with time.

At least that’s the sentiment from Cuban, who noted the similarities to Kobe Bryant: “You kind of have to think of the Kobe arc … it took him some time to get it right,” Cuban said after the Mavericks’ victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. “I don’t want to curse him by comparing him to Kobe because they’re not the same. But Kobe didn’t come in right away as a polished player. It took him two years to get it.”

Flagg’s debut stat line featured 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists, yet he went scoreless in the second half, missing 15 of the 21 shots he attempted. “Not up to my standard, but I’m going to improve, I’m going to be alright,” Flagg remarked.

Unlike Bryant, Flagg is likely to start for the Mavericks this season as a rookie based on the franchise’s significant investment. Bryant played just 15.5 minutes per game as a newcomer in 1996 before securing a larger role.

To Cuban’s point, Flagg has much to learn, including when to attack, finding rhythm within the lineup, and the integration of playing alongside notables like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Mavericks coach Jason Kidd expressed a desire to utilize Flagg at point guard to help expand his distribution abilities in the future. “The coaches have a lot of confidence in me,” Flagg noted. “They were telling me they want me to experiment, try some new things. I was trying to be aggressive, and that’s new for me.”