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The Dallas Mavericks used the first choice of the NBA 2025 draft to select the former superstar of Duke Cooper Flagg.
Flagg is now the first American American to be drafted with the first global choice since Kent Benson in 1977, according to Pat Forde of Illustrated Sports.
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June 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, United States; Cooper Flagg arrives before the first round of the NBA 2025 draft at Barclays Center. (Images of Brad Penner-Imagn)
Flagg was the first consensual choice in this year’s draft process after having one of the most electric first year in the history of university basketball last season. Flagg was the best -classified recruit in the country when he signed up in Duke in October 2023, and led the Blue Devils to the Final Four.
He won the First Team All-America Honors consensus, becoming the first Duke player to do so since Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett in 2019. Flagg also obtained the prices of the ACC and recruit of the year, a feat obtained by another Duke player before (Williamson).
His first year also included the first -year marking record in a single Duke match and ACC with 42 points in a January victory against Notre Dame.
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File-Facker Duke Cooper Flagg famous after marked against the Houston during the second half in the national semi-final during the Final Four of the NCAA basketball tournament on Saturday April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP photo / Brynn Anderson, file)
Meanwhile, the Mavericks ended up with the rights to choose Flagg after a controversial and dubious draft lottery that took place on May 12. Dallas ended up winning the first overall choice of draft despite a 1.8% chance of obtaining the first choice after finishing the season with a 39-43 file.
The team had the 11th best rating to win the lottery, but mysteriously ended up with the choice n ° 1. The lottery occurred for months after the Mavericks made a questionable business to send the superstar Luka Du to the Los Angeles Lakers of LeBron James in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round choice in 2029, that many experts Donic.
April 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, United States; Duke Blue Devils striker, Cooper Flagg (2), reacts after a three-point basket against the Houston Cougars during the first half in the semi-final of the last NCAA 2025 tournament at Alamodome. (Bob Donnan-Imagn images)
James has set up the future of Flagg in the latest edition of the Podcast “Mind The Game”, which is animated by James and the temple of renown Steve Nash.
“I personally think he wants to be great. He had a hell of a year in Duke. A guy who can do so many different things on the ground. Can play with the ball, can play without the ball. His jump will continue to improve,” said James.
