Overview

• With D’Angelo Russell out, Flagg opened at point in a jumbo preseason lineup and logged 11 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks with no turnovers against the Jazz, with Jason Kidd indicating the same group would start versus the Lakers.
• Flagg briefly alarmed fans after an awkward landing on a dunk in the Utah game but stayed on the floor and finished the night without any reported injury.
• Kendrick Perkins’ on‑air claim that Flagg is the “white version of LeBron James” circulated widely after the rookie’s ball‑handling stint, intensifying debate over early expectations.
• Fanatics, the NBA and NBPA detailed Topps’ Rookie Debut Patch program, in which a one‑of‑one patch from Flagg’s debut jersey next week will be removed, authenticated, signed and inserted into a 1/1 Rookie Debut Patch Autograph card; Gold Logoman patches for MVP, Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year jerseys will also be turned into cards.
• Topps promoted Flagg’s official rookie card in a new ad, with an Oct. 23 release date reported, as hobby outlets speculated his debut‑patch card could command seven‑figure bids based on recent comps.