The Dallas Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery Monday night in a stunning upset, claiming the sweepstakes for projected No. 1 overall pick and former Duke star Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks had just a 1.8% chance at receiving the top pick, but did so for the first time in franchise history. Flagg was in attendance in Chicago, where he appeared to be pleased by the results.
"For me, I didn't try and think about it too much," Flagg said in an ESPN interview. "I feel like it was kind of out of my control, so I'm just kind of going through the process like everybody else and just trying to enjoy every single moment because we only get to do this once."
From Montverde (Fla.) Academy, Flagg ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class. He won numerous awards as a freshman at Duke this past season, including consensus All-American First Team member and National Player of the Year.
Flagg led Duke in scoring (19.2 points per game), rebounds (7.5 per game), assists (4.2 per game), steals (1.4 per game) and blocks (1.4 per game), while shooting 48.1% from the field and 38.5% from 3-point range. He missed two games during the ACC Tournament in March after suffering an ankle sprain, but returned to the lineup in time for the NCAA Tournament, helping the Blue Devils reach the Final Four.
The Mavericks shocked the NBA landscape this year with a bold rebuild, which included trading All-Star Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster deal earlier this season. Now, Flagg could be in line to be the next Dallas franchise cornerstone. Interestingly, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has previously mentioned that defense wins championships. Flagg fits that vision perfectly with his 6-foot-9, 205-pound frame and elite two-way skill set.
"Yeah, I mean, I think, like I said, this entire experience for me has been amazing," Flagg said. "So, going forward, I'm just going to look forward to that, like you said, being a two-way player. That's something that I've done since I was a little kid. So, I'm just going to try to keep doing that to the best of my ability."
The production by the Duke star showcased the kind of all-around impact rarely seen from a freshman in college basketball. His ability to score, rebound, facilitate and defend at a high level makes him a consensus top prospect and the clear favorite to go No. 1. Flagg would join this list of fellow Blue Devils to go No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft alongside Paolo Banchero (2022), Zion Williamson (2019), Kyrie Irving (2011), Elton Brand (1999) and Art Heyman (1963).
"It's just an incredible experience to be here, to have this opportunity," Flagg said. "I mean, this is what I've dreamed of since I was a little kid. So, just to be here is an incredible experience and a great opportunity. ... I think for me it's always about just getting better all around. It's not one specific thing that I'm looking at, it's just a collective group of things and just trying to get all around better every single day."
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The 2025 NBA Draft is set for Wednesday, June 25, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.