Cooper Flagg Calls Getting Drafted by Mavs No. 1 Overall a 'Dream Come True'
The Cooper Flagg era for the Dallas Mavericks is officially underway.
As expected, the Mavs made the Duke star the top overall pick in Wednesday's NBA draft, and Flagg spoke for the first time as a member of the organization shortly thereafter.
"Amazing," he said of being selected No. 1 overall on ESPN's broadcast. "It's a dream come true to be honest. I wouldn't want to share it with anybody else."
Flagg came into the draft as the presumptive top prospect available after averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals in his lone season for the Blue Devils, shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from three.
The 18-year-old impacts the game in basically every category, on both ends of the floor, and his defense, versatility and playmaking should make him an instant contributor for the Mavericks.
Flagg is expected to pair with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving (once he recovers from a torn ACL) to give Dallas a fascinating core trio, and eventually the reins will be handed over to the young forward as the face of the franchise.
When the Mavericks shockingly won the NBA draft lottery, it felt like a gift from the basketball gods after the team's bizarre decision to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. One era had closed, but now another begins.
