All eyes are on 18-year-old Cooper Flagg as he prepares to join the Dallas Mavericks as the top pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft. The Maine native, hailed as the most promising U.S. college basketball player last season, is expected to be selected first overall following Dallas’s lottery win last month.
Flagg, who spent one standout season at Duke University, impressed scouts with his versatile play. Averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game, he led the Blue Devils to the NCAA semi-finals. His all-around performance and competitive mindset have drawn comparisons to basketball greats, and he’s already receiving praise from legends.
“I think he’s going to be amazing,” said four-time NBA champion LeBron James. On his podcast, James added, “He wants to be great. He had a hell of a year at Duke. A guy that can do so many different things out on the floor. Can play with the ball, can play without the ball. His jump shot is going to continue to get better. Super athletic, quick second jump.”
At six-foot-nine and 225 pounds, Flagg brings size, skill, and a strong work ethic to a Mavericks roster in transition. He becomes the first player from Maine to be drafted since 1984. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from or if people believe in you,” Flagg said. “You have to believe in yourself.”
His addition comes after a turbulent period for Dallas, who traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February in exchange for Anthony Davis. But with Davis, Kyrie Irving (recovering from knee surgery), and veterans like Klay Thompson already on the roster, Flagg joins a squad brimming with experience. Head coach Jason Kidd will also be a crucial figure in Flagg’s development.
“These guys, they can give him the whole blueprint while he continues to learn what his blueprint will be,” said James. “I think it will be an incredible thing to have that type of presence, type of leadership, type of just basketball IQ and knowledge around him every single day.”
Elsewhere, San Antonio, Philadelphia, and Charlotte hold the next three picks, while Phoenix is reportedly finalizing a trade for Houston’s 10th pick involving Kevin Durant. The draft could reshape several franchises, but all signs point to Cooper Flagg being the face of Dallas’s future.
