“He’s Lucky”: Draymond Green Says Cooper Flagg Landed in Ideal Spot with Dallas Mavericks
Draymond Green knows what it’s like to earn every inch in the NBA. So when the four-time champion sees a top prospect walk into a winning situation, he doesn’t hold back. And for Cooper Flagg — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft — Green says the path ahead is a rare gift.
“I don’t think he could have asked for anything better as the number one pick,” Green said on The Draymond Green Show. “You ain’t gotta go average 25 points on a bad team or 20 points on a bad team. You get to go compete and learn from some of the best.”
While most top picks enter rebuilding situations, Flagg joins a Mavericks team still hunting for a championship. Dallas already features Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving (when healthy), Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, and Dereck Lively II. That’s a veteran core with playoff experience, and no need for Flagg to carry the load alone.
“A lot of times, when you’re the number one pick, you go to a s—– organization,” Green added. “This time, it’s going to a great organization.”
Cooper Flagg Embracing the Moment
Flagg echoed that perspective during his introductory press conference on Friday, calling the opportunity a “blessing” as he adjusts to NBA life.
“A lot of people in this position or this situation aren’t granted this opportunity,” Flagg said. “So I just feel really blessed and grateful for the situation I’ve been given.”
The Mavericks plan to challenge him immediately. Head coach Jason Kidd said he will experiment with Flagg at point guard during Summer League, not to hand him a role, but to test his response under pressure.
“I want to make him uncomfortable and see how he reacts — being able to run the show, being able to play the two, play the three,” Kidd said. “We want to push. And I think he’s going to respond in a positive way.”
Kidd referenced his development work with a young Giannis Antetokounmpo and stressed that failure is part of the process.
“It is all right to fail. It is all right to turn the ball over,” Kidd said. “Just understanding the guys that I’ve been around that have been young … I’m excited about giving him the ball against the Lakers and seeing what happens.”
Built for the Pressure
Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game in his lone season at Duke, shooting 48.1% from the field and 38.5% from three. He became just the second freshman in program history to sweep the National Player of the Year awards.
Still, he insists that numbers aren’t the focus. “I want to be a really high-impact player and just impact winning at a really high level,” Flagg said. “I play to win. I play to compete. I play to play really hard.”
His past year under Jon Scheyer at Duke helped him adjust to that responsibility, especially as the ball stayed in his hands despite early mistakes.
“Coach Scheyer never went away from me, never stopped trusting me,” Flagg said. “And I think that’s what helped it — just really get me comfortable throughout the year and get really efficient.”
He also highlighted the spotlight of Duke, the Team USA experience, and the expectations of NIL-era stardom as ideal prep for what’s to come.
“Even nowadays, with the NIL era and stuff like that, college kids are under a bigger microscope than ever,” he said. “I think it was just great for me to kind of have that year of preparation.”
The Right Culture Fit
Flagg’s competitive drive stood out during Dallas’ evaluation process. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison called him a dual-threat addition: someone who can help now and anchor the future.
“We’re in win-now mode, and he adds to that,” Harrison said. “But he’s also the future of the franchise. So I think you get two in one, so to speak. It’s a perfect storm for us.”
Harrison added that Flagg’s teammates and coaches from previous stops raved about his work ethic and team-first mindset.
“His teammates—the first thing they say is, ‘He’s the most competitive. He’s the best teammate I ever had,’” Harrison said. “The people that are around the team, the support staff, they say he’s not entitled. He just wants to be part of the group.”
That’s exactly the kind of mentality that has veterans like Draymond Green sold on Flagg’s path — and eager to see how far it goes.
“He’s lucky,” Green said. “He really is. But now it’s about what he does with that opportunity.”
Looking Ahead
Cooper Flagg is expected to make his Summer League debut on July 10 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Whether at point guard or wing, one thing is clear: the Mavericks are throwing him into the fire, and Flagg is eager to respond.
“There’s going to be a lot of challenges,” Flagg said. “But … not hiding from anything. Just being ready to face challenges and overcome them.”
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