Behind the deal that saw Cooper Flagg move to the Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks confirmed the hotly anticipated pick: Cooper Flagg will be their new star.
The surprise could have been minimal. In Dallas, the Harrisons and Kidds—who oversee the Mavericks’ sports operations at different levels—were already talking about him. From now on, he’ll be the benchmark.
His name is Cooper Flagg, raised in Newport and elevated to near-mythic status at Duke. With such a pedigree—considered the top player since his high school days—the Mavericks couldn’t let the opportunity slip away.
There was a celebration at the arena where they play, welcoming, even from afar, their new hero. His jersey and number are already prepared, ready for battle. This franchise, cursed in recent months, defied the odds—less than a two percent chance in the lottery—to land the first pick in the 2025 Draft. And there it is: a fresh start, a new chapter after the trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers.
The decision to pick Flagg had been made and locked in for weeks. He even visited Dallas in recent days to ensure that the plan designed for him was solid. Expect to see him often alongside Anthony Davis and one of the Gafford-Lively duo, as the intention is to slot him in at small forward and develop his immense potential there.
Joining Flagg on the podium are Dylan Harper—son of five-time champion Ron Harper—who will form a dynamic core in San Antonio with Wembanyama and Castle; and Bahamian international Valdez Edgecombe, selected by the Sixers to inject explosiveness into their roster.
Expanding our view to the fourth and fifth picks, we find Kon Knueppel and his basketball-obsessed family heading to the Hornets, and the controversial Ace Bailey, taken by the Jazz despite making it clear he did not want to play there.
Phoenix, still reaping the benefits of the Kevin Durant trade (which remains partially unresolved), landed South Sudanese talent Khaman Maluach—though he was officially selected by the Houston Rockets.
Further down the list: Tre Johnson went sixth to the Wizards, Jeremiah Fears seventh to the Pelicans, and at number eight, Russian prospect Egor Demin was picked by the Nets.
With the 1st pick of the NBA Draft, the @dallasmavs select Cooper Flagg (@Cooper_Flagg)!
— NBA (@NBA) June 26, 2025
2025 #NBADraft presented by State Farm LIVE on ABC & ESPN! pic.twitter.com/dBZoPVedj8
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The Spanish connection is alive here—he’ll be coached by Jordi Fernández, a Badalona native and former coach in Real Madrid’s youth system. Rounding out the top ten is Collin Murray-Boyles, chosen by Toronto.
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