Drop Two Ulmers on 'Em: Brooklyn Nets Score Big with Rising Stars Cooper Flagg and Ben Saraf
Dallas Mavericks face minimal prospects of securing major agreement
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link The long-awaited basketball dynasty of the Dallas Mavericks has just been reinvigorated, with the addition of a new wave of talent. Two prodigious players from ratiopharm Ulm are set to take the court.
This time around, 18-year-old phenom Cooper Flagg will be joining the ranks of the Dallas Mavericks as their first pick in the NBA Draft. Remarkably, only LeBron James was younger among all number-1 picks in NBA history than the Duke graduate and savvy forward, who topped all crucial stats for his team during his college career. Flagg is poised to fill the shoes left behind by Luka Doncic, who unexpectedly parted ways with the Mavericks at the start of the year.
"This feels like a dream," Flagg expressed after being called in the draft, surrounded by family: "I truly feel grateful and honored to be here."
As teams take turns selecting prospects, with teams who perform poorly in the previous season having a higher probability of landing top picks, the Dallas Mavericks nabbing the number-one slot was a surprising turn of events. With only a 1.8% chance, the team scored a massive upset, setting the stage for Flagg's NBA career to begin alongside heavy-hitters Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson.
Sports Illustrated Fresh Faces: Brooklyn Nets Add Ben Saraf and Redemption with 26th Overall Pick The San Antonio Spurs selected Dylan Harper as their second pick, and visionary VJ Edgecome was scooped up by the Philadelphia 76ers in third. Frenchman Noa Essengue, who regretfully missed his ratiopharm Ulm club's fourth game and the fifth game of the championship's final series against Bayern Munich due to his eagerness to be present for the draft, was chosen 12th by the Chicago Bulls. Youngster Essengue ranked as the second youngest player in the draft after Flagg.
Teammate Ben Saraf also made his way into the first round, despite opting to stay with ratiopharm Ulm for a crucial match against Bayern Munich (8 p.m./Dyn). Taken 26th by the Brooklyn Nets, Saraf is recognized as an athletic forward with a promising future.
Videos of Saraf's draft selection by the Thunder have surfaced, but it's crucial to note that the correct selection team is the Brooklyn Nets, as confirmed by multiple sources.
Moreover, Noa Essengue's team details and stats have yet to be verified, as the 2025 NBA Draft is still fresh. Their pre-draft performances contributed significantly to their positions, but their professional stats will only materialize as they begin their professional careers.
Overall, the 2025 NBA Draft has brought fresh talent to the NBA, with Ben Saraf joining the Brooklyn Nets and Noa Essengue's team yet to be determined. We eagerly await their time on the court, and the start of their exciting NBA careers!
Source: ntv.de, tno/dpa
- NBA
- Basketball
- Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks have bolstered their roster with a new wave of talent, including 18-year-old Cooper Flagg, who was the first pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, showing promise to fill Luka Doncic's shoes. In contrast, the Brooklyn Nets have added another rising star, Ben Saraf, picking him 26th overall, giving NBA basketball fans a reason to look forward to their performances in the NBA.
