By: Dorothy J. Gentry
Sports Editor
Texas Metro News
After being drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks in Wednesday’s NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg was asked if he could see himself becoming the second, first pick to ever win a championship in his rookie season. (Magic Johnson was the first with the Lakers).
“Of course. Of course, yeah. My mindset has always been to be a winner, so I’m going to try to win as hard as I can everywhere I go.
“I’m looking forward to being successful and winning a lot of games, for sure.”
And with that, the Mavericks made it official, drafting Flagg, the 18-year-old forward from Duke University with the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
“What an exciting night for the Dallas Mavericks franchise, the fans, the City of Dallas,” said Mavs GM Nico Harrisoin.
“We are just super excited to get Cooper. He’s a generational talent, a once in a lifetime chance and so we are top to bottom excited.”
In one season at Duke, Flagg (6-9, 225) averaged 19.2 points (.481 FG, .385 3FG), 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks in 37 appearances (all starts) while leading the team to their second NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance in the last 10 years.
Earlier this year he was named National College Player of the Year (USBWA, NABC, AP, Wooden, Naismith, CollegeInsider.com), becoming the 11th player from Duke to be awarded the honor and the second freshman from Duke to do so (Zion Williamson).
Flagg – who will wear No. 32 for the Mavericks – said being drafted No. 1 overall hadn’t really sunk in yet.
“I don’t think it’s set in yet. It feels surreal. I’m just playing the moments back in my head, standing up, hearing my name, and it went so fast,” Flagg said.
“It feels like a blur. But I just feel really blessed and honored just to be here.”
Flagg has a built-in-brotherhood ready and waiting to help him transition from college to the pros when he arrives in Dallas. New teammates Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II both went to Duke as well.
“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,” Flagg said. “It’s going to be an incredible experience.”
Harrison said there were many things that led to the Mavs decision to draft Cooper Flagg with their prized No. 1 pick.
“I think it’s two things; win now and win in the future. Eventually it’s going to be Cooper’s team, we don’t know when that transition will happen,” he said. “So I think it’s win now and set yourself up to win in the future as well.”
Flagg, a Maine native, set the ACC freshman single-game scoring record after recording 42 points against Notre Dame on Jan. 11. He led Duke in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game, becoming the second freshman in the last 25 years to lead his respective team in all five categories (Ben Simmons).
Flagg represented Team USA at the 2022 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup, where he was named All-Tournament Team after averaging 9.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.4 steals en route to a gold medal campaign for his country and was chosen for the USA Select Team ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Additionally, he was voted consensus First-Team All-American and National Freshman of the Year. In the Atlantic Coast Conference, Flagg was also selected as the AAC Player of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year and named to All-ACC First Team, ACC All-Defensive Team and ACC All-Rookie Team.
Dorothy J. Gentry covers sports for Texas Metro News. She is an English and Journalism teacher in Irving ISD and has been a journalist for more than 30 years. She is a graduate of the University of North Texas with a degree in journalism and communications.
