Flagg captured: 10 facts about the Mavs' 18-year-old No. 1 pick

“I really think he’s going to be one of those guys who makes people around him better,” said Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley, who coached Flagg on the USA Select Team last summer. “People might get caught up in his numbers. But I think he’s going to be one of those pluses that’s always on the floor, all the while finding his range and his space.”

Flagg, who was widely considered the best prospect in the NBA Draft, figures to become a household name in Dallas. To start, here are 10 facts about Dallas' 18-year-old No. 1 pick. 

1. Flagg represents the second time the Mavs selected first overall

The Mavericks had the No. 1 overall pick for the second time in franchise history and used it to select Flagg. They also had the top selection in 1981, when they drafted Mark Aguirre out of DePaul.

Agguire played eight seasons and was a three-time All-Star with Dallas. 

2. Flagg stuffed the stat sheet at Duke

In his lone season at Duke, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks in 37 appearances (all starts) while leading the team to their second NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance in the last 10 years. 

The 6-foot-9 forward led Duke in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game, becoming the second freshman in the last 25 years to lead his respective team in all five categories. The other freshman this century to accomplish this feat, Ben Simmons, was also selected first overall in the NBA Draft.

3. Flagg will wear No. 32 in Dallas

The Mavs' newest rookie will wear No. 32, the team announced on Instagram.

4. Flagg is the youngest draft pick in Mavericks history

Flagg, the AAC Player of the Year, is the second-youngest player taken first overall.

Superstar LeBron James was eight days younger when he was taken first overall in 2003 by the Cleveland Cavaliers, per ESPN Research.

5. Flagg was named College Player of the Year

The 6-foot-9 forward became the 11th player from Duke to be awarded Naismith Men's College Player of the Year and joined Zion Williamson as the only Duke freshman to do so.

6. Flagg won gold with Team USA 

Flagg represented Team USA at the 2022 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup, where he was named All-Tournament Team after averaging 9.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.9 blocks and 2.4 steals en route to a gold medal campaign for his country and was chosen for the USA Select Team ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics.

7. Flagg's hometown once threw a parade for him

Before moving to Florida to attend powerhouse high school, Montverde Academy, Flagg spent his freshman year in his home state of Maine, attending the local school, Nokomis Regional High School. The ninth-grader averaged 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals and 3.7 blocks for Nokomis en route to winning the school's first-ever high school state basketball championship. Following the historic championship win, the surrounding communities that feed into Nokomis threw Flagg a parade.

8. Flagg doesn't turn 19 until Christmas week

When the Mavericks open the 2025-26 campaign at home against Victor Wembenyama and the Spurs, their newly-minted No. 1 pick will still be just 18 years old. Flagg turns 19 on Dec. 21.

9. Flagg is a New Balance athlete

New Balance announced in August that they struck a multi-year sneaker deal with Flagg, before the start of his historic freshman season.

The Newport, Maine, native grew up 25 miles from the New Balance Skowhegan manufacturing facility.

However, he was required to wear Nike sneakers on the court due to Duke's partnership with Nike. Flagg wore New Balance shoes for the first time in an official capacity at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, where he donned the New Balance HESI LOW V2 in the "Sunfade Red" colorway.

10. Flagg flashed floor general potential at Duke

The Duke star became the first ACC freshman in 25 years to tally over 500 points and 100 assists.

Grant Hill, the managing director of USA Basketball, said Flagg's best attribute is his versatility, citing his ability to contribute as a scorer and facilitator. 

“He can read the game and figure out what’s needed from him for his team to have success," Hill told NBC News. "He assesses what’s happening in the game and has the talent and ability to provide what’s needed, and that’s unique, particularly for someone so young.”