Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg has landed in an ideal situation as he begins his NBA career.
The Mavericks appeared headed for a rebuild after a disappointing 2024-25 season. Following their NBA Finals appearance in 2024, Dallas struggled significantly this past year.
While there have been rumors and mock drafts suggesting a potential blockbuster trade involving star guard Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers for future Hall-of-Famer Anthony Davis, no official transaction has been confirmed as of July 6, 2025.
The team also lost guard Kyrie Irving to a torn ACL, though Irving has since opted out of the final year of his contract and re-signed with the Mavericks on a three-year, $119 million deal.
Dallas managed to win one play-in game as the 10th seed in the Western Conference, defeating the Sacramento Kings before falling to the Memphis Grizzlies in the second play-in game and missing the postseason entirely.
The Mavericks then struck gold by winning the NBA Lottery with just a 1.8% chance, allowing them to select Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick. This stroke of luck transformed their rebuild timeline and gave them a potential franchise cornerstone.
Dallas is now counting on Flagg to eventually replace Dončić as the face of the franchise. With Irving in the fold, Irving is eyeing a midseason return from his knee injury, Flagg can develop at his own pace without immediate pressure to carry the team.
However, given Flagg’s exceptional work ethic dating back to his teenage years, he may not need much extra time to make an impact. His background suggests he’s already equipped with the mental toughness required for NBA success.
Cooper Flagg: ‘It Helps You Learn Early About Having a Job’
As a teenager, Flagg worked at Thunder Road Farm in Maine, where he would sit “on a bucket for hours at a time harvesting peas.” This experience shaped his approach to hard work and dedication, qualities that have followed him throughout his basketball career.
“It helps with your work ethic,” Flagg said. “It helps you learn early about having a job. It was always fun to make a little money and hang out with your friends.”
Flagg’s mother, Kelly Flagg, says her son displayed competitive fire even during those early farm days. That intensity translated directly to his basketball development and explains his rapid rise through high school and college ranks.
“Cooper the pea picker was very competitive,” Kelly Flagg told The Athletic. “He wanted to make more money than his brothers. They only picked for about three hours in the morning before it got too hot. He was very aggressive.”
According to Charlie and Barb Peavey, who own Thunder Road Farm, they weren’t sure if they could keep Flagg after the first week because he quickly earned $100 working on the farm. His productivity far exceeded typical teenage workers, foreshadowing the professional approach he would bring to basketball.
The Peaveys’ son, Kellen, who played with Flagg and his brothers during their youth, explained that Flagg had a completely different attitude compared to other kids who worked on the farm.
“A lot of kids come on the farm and think it’s going to be easy. They fool around and talk; Cooper never did that,” Barb Peavey said. “Cooper was very focused on what he was doing… He put his nose to the grindstone. He picked and worked.”
What This Means for Dallas
It’s easy to see why Flagg has found success in basketball and seemingly everything else he has tackled. The Mavericks are counting on that work ethic to help him adjust to the NBA quickly and possibly transform Dallas back into an immediate contender alongside Irving.
With Irving’s veteran leadership, Flagg enters a situation where he can learn from proven winners while developing his own game. The combination of his natural talent and farm-tested work ethic gives Dallas reason for optimism as they look to return to championship contention.
