The Dallas Mavericks are expected to make Cooper Flagg the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25, ending a long-simmering build-up around one of the most anticipated prospects in recent memory. The 6-foot-9 Duke forward is seen as a franchise cornerstone with two-way upside, arriving in a situation already built to compete.
Flagg will join a roster featuring Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and Kyrie Irving, although the latter is recovering from a torn ACL. Given Dallas’s improbable lottery win and its immediate championship aspirations, Flagg could be entering a rare combination of opportunity and structure. But despite the noise surrounding his draft destination, the Newport native insists his approach wouldn’t have changed regardless of where he landed.
Cooper Flagg’s Only Focus Is to Win, Irrespective of Landing Spot
Speaking to Sports Illustrated in a recent feature, the 18-year-old prodigy emphasized that the franchise he ended up with was never his focus. Instead, he framed his transition to the NBA through the lens of competitiveness and personal accountability, stating that his goal to win would have been the same no matter the city or roster.
“For me, it didn’t really matter what team I went to. Whatever team I get picked by or whatever situation I ended up in, my mindset going into any game or anytime I’m playing basketball is always try to win. I’m just an ultimate competitor, and this is what I would try to do anywhere I went,” he said.
Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks in his lone season at Duke, showcasing a balanced, two-way skill set that gives him the potential to thrive as either a lead initiator or secondary star. In Dallas, where shot creation and rim protection are already shared responsibilities, Flagg’s development can unfold without the pressure of carrying a franchise from day one.
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The Mavericks won in the draft lottery. However, the odds were stacked against them thanks to a combination of long odds, precise timing, and a good-luck owl sticker carried in by assistant GM Matt Riccardi, which has set up a new trajectory for the team. While Flagg admitted he was surprised by how quickly the lottery show moved, the moment itself may mark a long-term shift in Dallas’s outlook.
For now, Flagg seems locked in on what he can control. And in a draft class where situation often defines success, he may have landed in the rare position where both talent and timing align.
