'I’m So Excited': Naji Marshall Embraces Cooper Flagg’s Arrival as Dallas Mavericks Prepare for No. 1 Pick

Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall isn’t hiding his enthusiasm for Cooper Flagg.

In a recent appearance on The Young Man and The Three podcast, Marshall gave an unfiltered review of Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and likely future teammate in Dallas.

“I love his game, honestly. Like, for real… He’s a winner. I love how he hoop… The dog he has. I’m a dog, so that’s what I’m really looking for, and he’s a dog, too. I’m excited, bro. I’m excited to see him grow—become a star in the league.”

For Marshall, it’s about more than just numbers. He values tenacity, toughness, and mentality—qualities he sees in the 18-year-old Duke product.

“He’s a hooper, he’s a dog… I’m excited to see him become a star in the league,” Marshall said.

Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals during his freshman year at Duke. He earned National Player of the Year honors and emerged as the consensus top prospect in the class.

Dallas Mavericks’ Lottery Night Shock Turned Opportunity

Dallas stunned the league by leaping 10 spots in the lottery to land the No. 1 pick, despite having just a 1.8% chance of winning. The moment was unforgettable for Marshall, who averaged 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists last season.

“I was at my house… I was watching, I forgot it came on,” Marshall recalled. “I turn on ESPN, it was on the top five. I seen us across the board, I looked at my man like ‘What?!’ It just kept going down, three, two, one, I started jumping in the air. I couldn’t believe it.”

Now, the Mavericks hold the top pick for the first time in franchise history—a transformative asset following the midseason trade of Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.

With the Mavericks retooling around veterans like Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and P.J. Washington, Flagg could thrive in a system that doesn’t demand stardom on day one. Head coach Jason Kidd believes Dallas is the ideal landing spot.

“When you talk about the other clubs, he would have to produce right away at a high, high level. Here, the pressure of living up to number one will be a lot easier with the talent around him,” Kidd said on The Dan Patrick Show. “This isn’t about just rebuilding. He’s going to have help.”

Kidd also praised Flagg’s defensive instincts and maturity beyond his years.

“He doesn’t turn 19 until December… Being able to have older players—Kai, AD, Klay—could definitely help him with the process of going through a rookie season.”

Cooper Flagg Embraces the NBA Draft Journey

At the NBA Draft Combine, Flagg said the experience of preparing with the USA Basketball Select Team last summer helped him understand the demands of the professional level.

“The biggest thing I took from it was the preparation—mental and physical,” Flagg said. “I picked some of those guys’ brains… I just learned how important recovery is and how much attention you have to pay to it.”

Flagg also mentioned the opportunity to learn from Mavericks center Dereck Lively II, another former Blue Devil.

“To be able to learn from D-Live—that’s pretty cool. So I think it would be a really cool opportunity.”

And when it comes to joining Dallas? Flagg sees a real opportunity to step into a contending environment that can benefit from his skill set.

“They’ve got a lot of really good pieces,” Flagg said. “I’m just gonna try and be me to the best of my ability. Try to do whatever the team needs—play both sides of the ball and just play really hard in every single possession.”

Flagg’s arrival represents a new beginning for a Mavericks team that narrowly missed the playoffs and is eager to climb back into contention.

“I’m excited, bro. I’m so excited for the future,” Marshall said.

Dallas is expected to make Flagg the top overall selection when the NBA Draft begins on June 25 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. If all goes as expected, Marshall and Flagg will soon share more than just a mindset—they’ll share the floor.