The Dallas Mavericks are heading into the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25 with the No. 1 overall pick. Their jump from No. 11 to No. 1 in the Draft Lottery is the biggest since the new lottery odds were introduced in 2019.
This news shocked the NBA world, but the CBB world as well. Teams had been tanking all season, while Cooper Flagg had an incredible season with the Duke Blue Devils.
Many NBA teams hoped to land Flagg as the prize of a losing season, but the honor will go to the Mavericks, who can finally rally behind a new generational talent after Luka Doncic was traded in February.
Flagg will likely head to a win-now destination if the Mavericks make the widely assumed decision to draft him, a fact that delights Duke coach Jon Scheyer. In a recent interview with ESPN's Baxter Holmes.
"To me, it's a dream spot," Scheyer said of the Mavericks. "I really feel that way."
"He's not going to go into Dallas thinking he's got all the answers," Scheyer said. "He's going to learn from Kyrie, he's going to learn from [Davis]. He's going to learn from Derek Lively and Jason Kidd and his staff. He's coming in to learn, and I think that's a special part about him."
Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg reacts after a 3-point basket against the Houston Cougars in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome on April 5, 2025.
Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg reacts after a 3-point basket against the Houston Cougars in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome on April 5, 2025.
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Scheyer also addressed that Flagg is heading into a team that's seen franchise pillars represent them for over 25 years, a responsibility that will pass onto Flagg now.
"Dallas has been lucky for many years. They've been able to watch Dirk, Luka -- so many winning teams. Now, you've got a guy in Cooper, who I think will carry that tradition forward."
It'll be a shock at this point if the Mavericks don't draft Flagg, with the team even accidentally sharing promo material of Flagg as a Maverick on their website.
While the Mavericks will be without former Blue Devil Kyrie Irving for a majority of next season, they will have another former Duke star, Dereck Lively II, mentoring Flagg. Lively was drafted by the Mavs in 2023 after one season at Duke and has been a contributor since day one.