The Dallas Mavericks had just a 1.8% chance of winning the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, but for what many of their fans felt like the first time in franchise history, luck bounced their way.

It was hardly a secret who Dallas would select first overall, as Cooper Flagg had been the consensus top prospect since reclassifying in 2023 to graduate early from Montverde Academy. Flagg, a 6-foot-9 phenom, became the second-youngest No. 1 pick in NBA history, trailing only LeBron James by a mere eight days.

Reclassifying is not common, but Flagg’s decision was rooted in his mother’s wisdom. Kelly Flagg, a former college player from Maine, once told him, “If you’re the best player in the gym, you need to find a new gym.”

Fortunately, Flagg will not have to search for another gym anytime soon. With the Mavericks, he joins two former first-overall picks, Kyrie Irving (2011) and Anthony Davis (2012), each of whom are already owners of an NBA championship ring.

Flagg can help Dallas from the get-go as he brings a generational blend of size, athleticism, shotmaking, playmaking, and elite defensive instincts. In his single collegiate season at Duke, he was named the ACC Rookie of the Year and National College Player of the Year after averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. What’s even more impressive are his impressive shooting splits (48/39/84) across his 37 games. He quickly emerged as Duke’s best player and primary clutch option during his tenure which ended with a heartbreaking loss in the Final Four.

One of Flagg’s most appealing traits is his two-way versatility. His 7-foot-1 wingspan, combined with his unique blend of strength and quickness, allows him to guard multiple positions, whether on the perimeter or at the rim. Offensively, Flagg’s combination of size, shooting, ball handling, and vision is tantalizing—and has already earned him comparisons to some of basketball’s all-time greats.

Unlike most top picks who need to prove that they belong, Flagg has already shown he thrives alongside elite talent which only boosted excitement around his looming professional career. At last year’s Team USA camp, he already stood out against the players who eventually won gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Flagg has limitless potential across every facet of his game and the future looks bright for him and the Mavericks. He appears to already be ready for the pros and it should be sooner rather than later that he joins the ranks of the best players in the NBA.