How many times have the Dallas Mavericks picked first in the NBA Draft? Who did they select?

It’s been a rocky few months for the Dallas Mavericks but there is light at the end of the tunnel. After a shock mid-season trade that saw the team lose talisman Luka Doncic, the Mavs lucked out to scoop up the No. 1 pick at the 2025 NBA Draft.

Going into Monday’s NBA Draft Lottery the Mavericks had just a 1.8% chance of taking the first pick. And yet their name was the one pulled out of the hat in Chicago, ensuring that they get first refusal on one of the most promising college prospects of recent years: Cooper Flagg.

The Mavericks are clearly in the middle of a major rebuild and this stroke of luck could suddenly catapult them into championship contention, with the right team management. This is only the second time in franchise history that the Dallas Mavericks have received the No. 1 overall pick for a draft.

The only previous No. 1 pick for Dallas was Mark Aguirre, who joined the team in 1981. Aguirre played nine years with the Mavs and was a three-time NBA All-Star with the team.

However the pick was bitter-sweet for Dallas, who had to watch Aguirre move to the Detroit Pistons in 1989 and pick up two championship rings with that famous team. In return, the Mavericks got an aging Adrian Dantley who spent just two injury-hit seasons in Dallas.

It’s not yet clear whether the Mavericks will choose to use their No. 1 pick this time around, or look to secure a very lucrative trade package for the right to draft Cooper Flagg. If they do decide to investigate their options, they won’t be short of offers.

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