The Dallas Mavericks made the expected but still significant move by selecting Cooper Flagg with the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
After winning the draft lottery last month, the franchise positioned itself to land the most coveted prospect in years.
What sets Flagg apart from typical top picks is his landing spot with a team that reached the NBA Finals just one season ago.
The Mavericks have undergone major changes since the Luka Doncic era ended, creating an opportunity for Flagg to step into a prominent role immediately.
Months of speculation and roster uncertainty finally came to an end with this selection, giving Dallas a clear direction for the future.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst recently shared his perspective on what makes Flagg’s situation particularly compelling.
“He could have as big of an impact on the actual standings as we’ve seen a rookie in the modern era,” Windhorst said.
“He could have as big of an impact on the actual standings as we’ve seen from a rookie in the modern era.”@WindhorstESPN shares the impact he expects Cooper Flagg to have in the NBA 👀 pic.twitter.com/7Ik93TNA7y
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 26, 2025
Throughout the college basketball season, Flagg maintained his position as the consensus top prospect.
His dominance at Duke despite being one of the youngest players in the program demonstrated why he deserved the first selection.
The Dallas Mavericks, who moved on from Doncic earlier this year, now have their new cornerstone player.
Flagg’s defensive versatility and energy should help the Mavericks remain competitive while he develops his offensive game.
Playing alongside veterans like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis provides him with experienced teammates who can ease his transition to professional basketball.
The selection removes any doubt about Dallas’s rebuilding approach.
With free agency approaching, the Mavericks will focus on finding complementary pieces to surround their new franchise player.
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