Duke University freshman forward Cooper Flagg has unsurprisingly been picked first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavericks won the lottery for the draft months ago, giving them the rights to select a generational talent in Flagg.
This decision by the Mavericks comes as no surprise. Flagg had been forecasted as the top pick for this draft class since he reclassified to the Class of 2025, allowing him to join Duke a year ahead of schedule.
After orchestrating one of the most significant trades in NBA history, Mavericks GM Nico Harrison made the obvious choice by selecting Flagg. Despite this, some NBA fans expressed frustration with Dallas securing the top pick given their low lottery odds, with one fan audibly shouting ‘Dallas was rigged!’ on the ESPN broadcast.
Flagg, a native of Newport, Maine, is the clearest-cut first-overall pick since Victor Wembanyama and the most obvious American first-overall pick since fellow Duke star Zion Williamson in 2019. He’s also the first white American to be taken first-overall in 48 years.
In college, Flagg was named National Player of the Year, was a consensus first-team All-American, and led the Blue Devils to the Final Four.
The Dallas Mavericks didn’t surprise anyone by picking Cooper Flagg first in the NBA Draft
Flagg, a Maine native and star at Duke University, had long been projected to go first overall
Unfortunately for Flagg, he missed Duke’s final shot of the game to blow a massive lead to Houston and failed to advance to the national title game.
Months after that loss, the Mavericks won the lottery under dubious circumstances – with many conspiracy theories popping up after Dallas was victorious despite a 1.8 percent chance of taking the top pick.
His arrival gives new hope to a Mavericks team and fanbase still reeling from the Luka Doncic trade back in February.
Losing Doncic led to the Mavs missing out of the playoffs and many Dallas fans calling for Harrison to be fired.
Now, Flagg will form an elite trio with Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis.
However, Irving’s long-term future with the team remains up in the air as he’s in talks with the team on a contract extension.
Prior to the draft beginning, Flagg and other top prospects in the NBA Draft took to the red carpet – showing off their style on one of the league’s biggest nights of the year.
Flagg arrived in a dark navy suit paired with a white shirt, black tie, and an expensive looking watch.
After taking interviews with reporters, he made his way inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn to achieve his crowning moment in front of an international television audience.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced the official choice at 8:10pm ET, marking a new era in Mavericks basketball.
Flagg, alongside his parents, put a Dallas cap on and walked on stage to meet his moment in front of a packed arena and likely millions watching around the world.
Flagg’s selection was obvious, but for months mock drafts projected a pair of Rutgers stars would follow behind him.
Guard Dylan Harper had long been believed to be the second-overall pick, with teammate forward Ace Bailey right behind him at third overall.
However, in the weeks leading up to the draft, questions surrounding Bailey began to pop up when he became the only American draft prospect to not take a meeting with any NBA teams.
Harper, for what it’s worth, did not have any surprises come his way – with the San Antonio Spurs selecting him second overall.
While Rutgers did not make the NCAA Tournament, Harper’s on-court play was phenomenal as he averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.
An elite scorer ant two-way player, Harper showed bright spots throughout the season and was tabbed by many as the best guard in the draft class.
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