Mavericks selects Flagg as No. 1 pick in 2025 NBA Draft: 'Since LeBron...'
The Dallas Mavericks, defying long odds, secured highly-touted forward Cooper Flagg as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. At just 18, Flagg's reclassification and stellar collegiate performance position him as the youngest top pick since LeBron James, offering Dallas immediate impact and a future franchise cornerstone.
The Dallas Mavericks made headlines Wednesday night, defying considerable odds to secure forward Cooper Flagg as the first overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. The consensus top prospect, who reclassified to enter college and the draft a year early, expressed his excitement after his name was called. "I'm feeling amazing. It's a dream come true, to be honest," Flagg said, standing alongside his family. "I wouldn't want to share it with anybody else."
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The moment Cooper Flagg was drafted with the No. 1 pick by the Dallas Mavericks 👏 pic.twitter.com/LkwwoYZT7m
— ESPN (@espn) June 26, 2025
The Mavericks' surprising win in the draft lottery, despite holding only a 1.8% chance, paved the way for them to draft Flagg. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison conveyed the team's enthusiasm, calling Flagg a "generational talent, a once-in-a-lifetime chance." This pick is anticipated to mitigate significant business concerns the franchise faced after the shocking blockbuster trade of five-time All-NBA selection Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers less than five months prior, a deal that had sparked outrage among the fan base.
Flagg, who won't turn 19 until December 21st, arrived at Duke with immense expectations and successfully lived up to them. The 6-foot-8, 221-pound forward became a consensus All-American, earning prestigious national player of the year honors, including the Wooden Award and the Naismith Award. He averaged an impressive 19.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals, guiding the Blue Devils to a stellar 35-4 record and a coveted Final Four appearance.
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Harrison highlighted Flagg's versatility, stating, "I think the biggest thing is he's a two-way player. When you watch him play, he plays hard." He added that when a player of Flagg's caliber possesses strong intangibles beyond just basketball skills, "that's a guy who's going to add to your culture."
Flagg joins a Dallas squad with immediate aspirations of contending in the Western Conference, despite an injury-plagued 39-43 campaign that ended in the final play-in game. He is expected to step into a loaded frontcourt rotation featuring 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, centers Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, and forwards P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, and Caleb Martin. Flagg expressed his eagerness to learn from his new teammates: "I'm really excited. I think I keep saying I'm excited to be a sponge, to get down there and just learn, be surrounded by Hall of Fame-caliber guys and just to be able to learn from them. It's going to be an incredible experience."
Despite some lingering "Fire Nico" chants at the American Airlines Center watch party, Harrison affirmed that Flagg will immediately contribute to the Mavs' "win now" timeline while gradually developing into a future franchise player. "Even though he's supposed to be graduating from high school this year, he's going to be additive to what we're doing," Harrison concluded, emphasizing Flagg's dual impact on both immediate and future success.
