'Dallas Got a Generational Talent:' Eastern Conference GM Is Jealous Dallas Mavericks Got Cooper Flagg

The Dallas Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery and selected Duke star Cooper Flagg with the first pick.

After trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last season, Flagg is the new franchise player in Dallas.

“It pays to be lucky, right? Dallas got a generational talent when those lottery balls bounced their way. That kid is unbelievable. You knew after he played like crap in the first game out here that he was going to be great the next time out. He’s an ass-kicker. Wish we had that kind of luck,” an Eastern Conference GM told NBA reporter Keith Smith of Spotrac.

Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists at Duke. He shot 48.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 84.0% from the free-throw line.

The 18-year-old Flagg played in two Summer League games for the Mavericks in Las Vegas. The youngster put up 10 points, six rebounds and four assists against the Lakers and 31 points and four rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs.

“Since we selected him, he’s been everything we thought he’d be and even more,” a Mavericks front office executive told Smith. “Tremendous kid on and off the court. Here’s a good story for you: He shot like crap in his first game here (Las Vegas). Second game he dominated. We had a plan to play only two games. Cooper comes to us and the coaches and asks to play a third game. We laughed and told him, ‘No. You’re good.’

“And he goes, ‘I just don’t want people to think the good game was a fluke.’ All we could do was laugh, but it shows how much he wants to be great.”

Flagg will have a high usage rate for the Mavericks next season since Kyrie Irving will miss a lot of time recovering from his left ACL tear.

Don’t be surprised if Cooper Flagg wins the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year Award.