Mavericks select Cooper Flagg as their top pick in the NBA draft, making him the new Maine player.
In the bustling city of Dallas, the NBA spotlight now belongs to Cooper Flagg, the latest addition to the Mavericks roster. The Maineman took center stage as the Dallas franchise nabbed him with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, looking to resurrect their star power less than five months since trading away Luka Doncic.
Mavericks fans were up in arms when the team shipped Doncic off to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1, some even threatening to abandon the team. But the ones who stood their ground might find solace in Flagg, the reigning college Player of the Year who averaged a whopping 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds. As a result, the Mavericks wasted no time announcing that Flagg would don the No. 32 jersey in Dallas, a number shared by fellow Duke alumni Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II.
"I couldn't be more excited! I'm buzzing to be a sponge, to get down there and just learn, be surrounded by Hall of Fame-caliber guys and just to be able to learn from them," Flagg said, beaming with anticipation. "It's going to be an incredible experience."
Initially seen as a shoo-in pick for the draft, Flagg's selection was met with cheers at home and beyond. The 18-year-old hailing from Newport, Maine, became one of the few NCAA players chosen first overall since 1999 and returned the draft to its historical one-and-done college player tradition that has prevailed since 2010[2].
Flagg joined the likes of Elton Brand, Irving, Zion Williamson, and Paolo Banchero, with only French prospects Victor Wembanyama and Zaccherie Risacher breaking the trend in the previous two years. Interestingly, Rutgers freshman Dylan Harper, the son of former NBA guard Ron Harper, was taken second overall by the Spurs and seeks to follow Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, setting San Antonio on a path to a third straight NBA Rookie of the Year.
The 76ers drafted Baylor's VJ Edgecombe, while breakout star Walter Clayton Jr. of Florida was selected 18th overall by Washington, only for his rights to be dealt to Utah for the rights to Illinois' Will Riley[2]. The draft night also saw New Orleans acquire Derik Queen from Atlanta with the No. 13 pick and the first round resuming on the following night, with UConn's Liam McNeeley being the last player chosen in the first round by Phoenix[2].
Despite a small confusion surrounding the year involved, it's clear that the spotlight has shifted to Dallas and Cooper Flagg, who is poised to take the league by storm and provide Mavericks fans with a spark of hope and excitement. The 2025 NBA draft has wrapped up, with Duke once again proving their basketball dynasty's might, and the league eagerly awaits the start of the new season.
Coach Flagg's prowess in sports, particularly basketball, was Under the limelight after he became the Dallas Mavericks' new star, drafted first overall in the 2025 NBA draft. With his impressive college stats of 19.2 points per game and 7.5 rebounds, Mavericks fans now look forward to news about their team's updated sports performances in the NBA.
