The pick is finally in. With the first pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks select Duke phenom Cooper Flagg.
After months of speculation and rumors, Flagg is now the No. 1 pick in the draft and will head to the Mavericks.
The Mavericks are coming off a tumultuous season, marked by drama, questionable decisions, and significant injuries. Dallas was bombarded with injuries this past season, which included Luka Doncic (before the trade), Anthony Davis, Derrick Lively, Daniel Gafford, Caleb Martin and Kyrie Irving, to name a few.
It's been a chaotic year for Dallas. They got off to a rocky start, made a highly criticized move by trading away Doncic to the Lakers, and then suffered through a brutal run of injuries. Yet somehow, they ended up with the No. 1 pick.
It was not a fun season in that regard, but because of that, it landed them the No.1 pick. Now they have one of the best draft prospects in the past decade, and one that could help the franchise get back on track after trading their franchise cornerstone just a few months ago.
Flagg has all the makings of a future NBA star - the same way he dominated the college game, there's reason to believe he'll thrive at the next level, too.
He's coming off a legendary freshman season at Duke, one already being mentioned among the best college campaigns in recent memory.
The accolades speak for themselves: AP Player of the Year, consensus First-Team All-American, Lute Olson Award winner, Julius Erving Award winner, Wayman Tisdale Award winner, ACC Player of the Year, First-Team All-ACC, ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC All-Defensive Team, and ACC All-Freshman Team.
Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has taken plenty of heat - and much of it has been justified. But all that noise could fade quickly if he nails this next stretch and puts together a roster that can seriously contend in 2025-26.
Selecting Flagg is certainly a start, and the expectation is he remains with he team for the rest of his career.
A future trio of Flagg, Davis and Irving could be deadly for the league in the near future.
For more on the Dallas Mavericks, the NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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