It’s been a whirlwind week for former Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.
Flagg now becomes the second player in just a matter of months to be drafted first overall by a Dallas-based team—joining Paige Bueckers, who was selected No. 1 by the Wings in the WNBA draft this past April.
The city is buzzing with basketball energy. Bueckers is already off to a strong start in her rookie season and is set to play in arguably the biggest game of her young WNBA career on Friday night as the Wings take on the Indiana Fever. The matchup, which sold out quickly, was moved to the American Airlines Center—home of the Mavericks—to accommodate the demand.
Among the stars in attendance for the high-profile showdown was none other than Cooper Flagg himself. His appearance drew a strong reaction, especially after he held his introductory press conference earlier in the day.
Paige Bueckers was recently asked about the Mavericks drafting Cooper Flagg and the shared weight of being a No. 1 overall pick.
“I’m not really new to expectations, honestly, but they exist... I know Cooper (Flagg) thinks a lot the same—we have expectations for ourselves and the standards we set for ourselves,” Bueckers said.
Dallas Mavericks' first overall pick Cooper Flagg
Dallas Mavericks' first overall pick Cooper Flagg
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Flagg was also asked on Friday about his thoughts on Bueckers, who has quickly become a fan favorite in Dallas.
“Yeah, I mean, she’s great,” Flagg said. “I went on a visit to UConn and I was able to meet her there—we talked a little bit. She’s a great person, she’s had an incredible career so far. She’s a great player, and she’s just a great person overall.”