Cooper Flagg talks to the media during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine at Marriott Marquis Chicago. David Banks-Imagn Images

Cooper Flagg embracing uncommon journey for top NBA Draft pick

By Kevin McCormick | Last updated May 19, 2025 4:44 PM ET

Leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft, the most talked-about prospect of the incoming class is Duke Phenom Cooper Flagg. Following a shocking and historic lottery result, the versatile forward is gearing up for a rather uncommon journey.

Typically, the No. 1 pick lands on a rebuilding team in need of promising young talent to be a pillar for the franchise. However, that won't be the case this time around. A year removed from appearing in the NBA Finals, the Dallas Mavericks find themselves with the top selection.

Instead of joining a team with long-term goals, Flagg is heading to an already ready-made squad. He'll be flanked by veterans like Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, who are all looking to add more championships to their respective resumé.

Though this comes with its own set of pressures, Flagg seems ready to take on this kind of situation. ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo reported Monday that Flagg is set to visit Dallas and is excited about the idea of playing for the Mavs.

"All indications from Flagg's camp are that he is thrilled with potentially joining a playoff-contending team with strong veterans, despite initially appearing shocked by the lottery's outcome," Givony and Woo wrote. "Sources told ESPN that Flagg is scheduling a visit to Dallas."

This season, the Mavericks shocked the basketball world when they traded Luka Doncic to the LA Lakers. While this move should still be seen as a very questionable decision, it did put the franchise in an interesting position.

If the Mavericks keep their pick and take Flagg, they'll have a new player to build around moving forward. More importantly, his addition extends the franchise's runway to a large degree. They can compete now while Davis and Irving are still playing at a high level. Then, upon their decline, Flagg will be gearing up to lead the charge as he'll be reaching his apex.

Helping a team to compete from day one at the age of 18 is a big ask, but with his intangibles, Flagg has the potential to help the Mavs in the short and long term.

Kevin McCormick

Kevin McCormick is a basketball writer for Yardbarker with years of experience in the journalism field. Based out of Philadelphia, he graduated from Holy Family University with a degree in Sports Management in 2019. Since then, Kevin has gone on to build a career in sports writing

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