The Dallas Mavericks don’t have any extra jaw-dropping information or tips up their sleeve and have chosen Duke freshman Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 choose within the 2025 NBA Draft.
This selection was just about a foregone conclusion after the yr Flagg had at Duke, making it a easy resolution for whichever workforce held the primary total choose. However nothing is ever sure within the NBA.
In a yr when the Mavericks made some of the stunning trades in NBA historical past — buying and selling away what gave the impression to be the cornerstone of their franchise, Luka Doncic, to the Los Angeles Lakers — normal supervisor Nico Harrison confronted immense strain to make up for what many thought-about a disastrous commerce.
Simply his luck, the Mavericks received the NBA Draft lottery regardless of having only a 1.8% likelihood of touchdown the No. 1 choose, and, not like Doncic, they weren’t going to commerce away that coveted asset.
Flagg was some of the anticipated recruits prior to now decade, typically being introduced up compared to fellow Duke star and No. 1 total choose Zion Williamson, one other Duke standout and former No. 1 choose.
Flagg lived as much as the hype — and even surpassed it. In his lone yr, he paced Duke in factors per sport (19.2), rebounds (7.5) and assists (4.2), whereas main them to a 31-3 regular-season report. The Blue Devils made their manner again to the Closing 4, the place they finally misplaced to the Houston Cougars.
Following the season, Flagg was awarded the Naismith Nationwide Participant of the 12 months, the Related Press Participant of the 12 months, and the John R. Picket Award. He additionally claimed ACC Participant of the 12 months honors. He turned the fourth freshman in NCAA historical past to win NPOY.
Now that Flagg has made it to the NBA, all eyes can be on him to be the subsequent celebrity, and reinvigorate the franchise that traded Doncic.
He’s in an incredible place, with the chance to be taught from four-time All-NBA ahead Anthony Davis, and, probably, play alongside one other former Duke star, Kyrie Irving, who is predicted to return from harm later this season.
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