“They Have Some Really Good Pieces”: Cooper Flagg Talks Possible Role with Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks pulled off one of the most improbable jumps in NBA Draft lottery history Monday night, moving up 10 spots to land the No. 1 overall pick. With just a 1.8% chance of entering the night, Dallas vaulted past 13 teams in a moment that stunned fans, league executives, and Cooper Flagg.
Flagg, the expected top pick, attended the lottery in person, seated next to Duke teammate Kon Knueppel. It marked his first time witnessing the event live.
“It was a crazy draft lottery,” Flagg said Wednesday at the NBA Draft Combine. “It was a cool experience to be there and go through that experience.”
Flagg, 18, was born in Newport, Maine, and reclassified from the 2025 to 2024 high school class, allowing him to play one season at Duke. He became the consensus national player of the year after averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field and 38.5% from three. He is widely projected to be the first player selected in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Flagg credited his experience with the USA Basketball Select Team as a significant step in preparing for the NBA. During training with the group last summer, he had the chance to compete against and learn from several established NBA players.
“Yeah, that whole experience was a big learning moment for me,” Flagg said. “The biggest thing I took from it was the preparation—mental and physical. Just learning how much you have to take care of your body. I picked some of those guys’ brains—specifically the select team guys. I got to talk to Jalen Suggs, Payton Pritchard, Brandin Podziemski, and some other young talents. I just learned how important recovery is and how much attention you have to pay to it.”
Cooper Flagg’s on Potential Dallas Mavericks Fit
The Mavericks, who traded Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this year, now hold the top selection in what could be a defining offseason. When asked about the prospect of joining Dallas, Flagg spoke thoughtfully about the team and the opportunity.
“I’m grateful to get this opportunity, or any opportunity to hear my name called on draft night,” Flagg said. “I’m just really excited for this whole experience. Not everybody gets to go through this, so I just feel really blessed. As far as Dallas goes, they’ve got a lot of really good pieces.”
He clarified that his focus remains steady while the circumstances around him may change.
“I think just trying to be present, trying to take it all in,” he said. “You only get to do it one time. I’m trying to enjoy every second.”
Flagg also mentioned his excitement about possibly playing alongside Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, another former Duke product.
“To be able to learn from D-Live—that’s pretty cool,” Flagg said. “So I think it would be a really cool opportunity.”
Combine Numbers and NBA Draft Outlook
At the NBA Draft Combine, Flagg measured 6 feet 7.75 inches without shoes, with a wingspan of 7 feet, a standing reach of 8 feet 10.5 inches, and a vertical leap of 40 inches. He weighed in at 221 pounds. His physical tools and production at Duke have solidified his place atop draft boards.
The Mavericks, now holding the No. 1 pick for the first time in franchise history, have a roster that includes Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Lively. Dallas narrowly missed the playoffs after losing in the Play-In Tournament, but now finds itself positioned to add a potential franchise cornerstone.
“Wherever it is, I’m just gonna try and be me to the best of my ability,” Flagg said. “Try to do whatever the team needs—play both sides of the ball and just play really hard in every single possession.”
The 2025 NBA Draft will begin on June 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Dallas is expected to select Flagg No. 1 overall, giving the franchise a new centerpiece as it navigates the post-Dončić era.
More Dallas Mavericks Articles
- Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving Shares Video Showing ACL Recovery, Reacts to Dallas Winning Draft Lottery
- “Pretty Special”: Jon Scheyer on Cooper Flagg’s Fit with Dallas Mavericks, Pairing with Dereck Lively II
- Sources: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks Embrace Shocking NBA Draft Lottery Result
- “God Makes No Mistakes”: Paige Bueckers on Mavericks Landing No. 1 Pick, Cooper Flagg to Dallas
- Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks Could Meet in Preseason Clash in Las Vegas
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