The Dallas Mavericks selected forward Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night, as expected.
Dallas landed the top pick despite holding just a 1.8% chance in the draft lottery, and used the pick to select Flagg, widely considered the consensus No. 1 prospect since reclassifying to enter college a year early in 2023.
At just 18 years old, Flagg is regarded as a rare, NBA-ready talent. Last summer, at age 17, he was the only teenager selected for the USA Basketball Select Team that trained in Las Vegas. The team was assembled to challenge the U.S. Olympic roster ahead of the Paris Games—and Flagg impressed against seasoned NBA players, showcasing his competitiveness, poise, and two-way skill set.
Flagg can handle the ball, create for others, and impact the game off the ball as a cutter and screener. On defense, he’s relentless—using his size and instincts to disrupt passing lanes, protect the rim, and never taking a possession off.
His selection marks the start of a new era for Dallas, coming less than five months after the blockbuster trade that sent franchise superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal sparked outrage across the Mavericks fanbase, particularly after a Finals appearance the season prior.
He went on to dominate his single season at Duke, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. He earned consensus All-American honors, won both the Wooden Award and Naismith Award, and led Duke to a 35–4 record and a Final Four appearance.
Standing 6-foot-8 and weighing 221 pounds, Flagg will turn 19 in December. He joins a Mavericks team that is aiming to return to contention after a disappointing 39–43 record faced with injuries. Dallas was eliminated in the final play-in game, but has a team with a mix of youth and veteran talent when healthy.
Flagg is expected to start in a deep frontcourt rotation that includes 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis, along with centers Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, and forwards P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, and Caleb Martin. Nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving is also expected to return from a torn ACL two to three months into next season, giving Dallas the firepower to compete in a loaded Western Conference.
