Cooper Flagg Hyped by Mavs Fans as New Franchise Star After Going No. 1 in NBA Draft
The weeks of waiting are over for Dallas Mavericks fans.
As expected, the Mavs made Duke star Cooper Flagg the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
This outcome was pretty much set in stone the moment Dallas won the draft lottery, moving up 10 spots. The lack of surprise when NBA commissioner Adam Silver called Flagg's name didn't dampen the excitement on social media, though:
There was some initial intrigue about the Mavericks' plans for the No. 1 overall pick.
Swapping Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis at the time shortened their window for contention, and their fortunes for the upcoming season took a hit when guard Kyrie Irving tore his ACL in March.
If general manager Nico Harrison wanted to make a win-now move, then he had a massive asset in the No. 1 pick at his disposal.
It didn't take long for the team to eliminate that possibility.
Well ahead the draft, the Mavericks were already seeing Flagg's impact.
ESPN's Baxter Holmes cited a source within the organization who said between 75 and 80 percent of season ticket holders renewed this offseason, and there were $8 million in new sales in the three days after the lottery draw. Corporate sponsors have stepped up to the plate, too, in preparation for Flagg's arrival.
Throwing a rookie onto a roster that's built to compete for a playoff spot can be tricky.
Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks in his lone season with the Blue Devils. He more than lived up to the hype as a college player. An adjustment period is inevitable when he hits the NBA, though, and the demands on him will be higher with Dallas trying to contend.
Having impressed against some of the NBA's best in a limited showcase, maybe Flagg will be one of the exceptions who not only excels out of the gate but also helps his team win.
Should the Mavs fail to qualify for the playoffs or miss the Play-In Tournament altogether, they'll still have a bright future ahead thanks to their lottery luck.
