Four months after shocking the NBA world by trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks had the opportunity to start a new era with another generational talent.
Cooper Flagg was unsurprisingly selected with the No. 1 overall pick in Night 1 of the 2025 NBA Draft after remarkable freshman season with the Duke Blue Devils (19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, shooting 48.1% from the field, 38.5% from deep and 84% from the free-throw line), which ended in the Final Four against the Houston Cougars, Flagg entered the draft, where the Mavericks (who had a 1.8% chance of winning the lottery, landed him).
The prospect of seeing Flagg sharing touches with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, when he returns from injury, is enticing for many fans. Mavericks supporters were ecstatic about the Duke product joining them, but the excitement has transcended the basketball world.
Cooper Flagg
Cooper Flagg before the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center.
© Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb took to social media to celebrate Flagg's arrival. The four-time Pro Bowler shared a Cowboys post welcoming Flagg to Dallas on his Instagram story.
CeeDee Lamb's story
CeeDee Lamb welcomed Cooper Flagg to Dallas with an Instagram story.
Instagram/cee2x___
Following the controversial Doncic trade, the Mavericks showed glimpses of brilliance with Anthony Davis on the court. While Kyrie Irving's injury derails their chances of competing at the highest level, adding a young player such as Flagg allows them to compete in both the short and long term.
The Cowboys also have renewed expectations after a busy offseason. They opted not to draft Omarion Hampton during the 2025 NFL Draft, but still selected a running back in Jaydon Blue to try to improve their running game.