It’s no secret that Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is an avid basketball fan. Growing up in Texas, he’s long been a supporter of the Dallas Mavericks and has been spotted courtside at several of their games over the years.
Back in February, Mahomes was one of the first athletes to react to the shocking trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Now, Dallas has found a way to reset its future by landing the No. 1 overall pick and selecting potential franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg, who is coming off a record-breaking freshman season at Duke.
During a recent appearance on "Up & Adams with Kay Adams," Mahomes shared his honest thoughts on the Mavericks drafting Flagg and what he expects from a Dallas squad that’s once again loaded with talent.
“So I'm like a very low-key Duke fan,” Mahomes said. “I was growing up... JJ Redick, Sheldon Williams... but obviously I'm a Texas Tech fan now. So I watched Cooper Flagg last year. Great player, and I was extremely excited for him to come to the Mavs.
Once they get healthy, they'll have as good of a chance as anybody of taking home the championship... I still love my guy Luka, no matter what. I'll be rooting for him no matter what, but my Mavs got a chance, man — we’ve got some hope again in Dallas.”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Cooper Flagg emerged from Newport, Maine — a small town in New England — and quickly burst onto the national radar through his standout performances on the AAU circuit. His rise continued at Montverde Academy, where he wrapped up his high school career before committing to Duke as the No. 1-ranked player in his class.
Remarkably, Flagg managed to exceed the already sky-high expectations in his freshman season. He led Duke to 35 wins, a Final Four appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and a dominant run through the ACC. His efforts earned him numerous accolades, including the Wooden Award and the Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year.
Now, as the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, Flagg joins a Mavericks team with established veterans like Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and Kyrie Irving — though Irving is expected to miss a significant portion of the season while recovering from a torn ACL.