NEW YORK — Nearly three months removed from Duke’s heartbreaking loss in the U.S. Men’s NCAA Basketball Final Four, Cooper Flagg can finally move on.
Flagg officially turned a new chapter in his basketball career on Thursday (Manila time) as the Dallas Mavericks expectedly made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center here in Brooklyn.
The 18-year-old phenom became the second-youngest No. 1 pick in the NBA since LeBron James, who thought Dallas would be a great situation for him coming into the league.
"He has the benefit, unlike myself, he gets to join a team that's established with Hall of Fame guys – Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving -- right off the bat,” James said of Flagg on the recent episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast ahead of the draft.
“Hall of Fame coach, Jason Kidd. You know, these guys are like, they can give him the whole blueprint while he continues to learn what his blueprint will be."
Unlike James, who had to carry the Cleveland Cavaliers on his back right in his rookie year, Flagg will not have that pressure in Dallas.
The one-and-done Duke star is joining a star-studded Mavericks team that, if healthy, is equipped to contend for a title. But with nine-time All-Star guard Kyrie Irving sidelined by a torn ACL, the Mavericks only have the 11th-best championship odds (+3300) after the draft at FanDuel, which has one of the best betting offers, per Sportsgambler.com.
Even without Irving, the Mavericks still have enough to compete in the loaded Western Conference with arguably the best frontcourt in the league with him, Davis, P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford.
“100 percent (I agree with James). I'm really excited,” said Flagg on joining the Mavericks after the draft.
“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. It's going to be an incredible experience.”
“I feel so blessed to be in the position I am. Just to get down there, be a sponge, learn and try and grow my game as much as I can.”
Flagg, who was the college’s consensus National Player of the Year, also looks forward to getting coached by Kidd.
“Talking with Coach Kidd (during) my workout and even after I got picked, I was on the phone with him for a minute, I think he's just excited,” Flagg said.
“He has a good vision for me and what I can do and how I can impact the game. So, I'm excited to just talk to him more.”
Flagg spent the last two and a half months with his personal trainer, Matt MacKenzie, to prepare for his jump to the pros and recover from their shocking loss in the Final Four.
“I took a little bit of time off after the season, for sure, let my body kind of reset and heal,” Flagg said.
“But then I've been in the gym.”