Flagg is Dallas-bound after one season at Duke, where he showcased his skills as one of the nation’s top young basketball players.
Cooper Flagg is officially headed to Dallas.
With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, the Mavericks selected the Duke superstar. Flagg spent just one season at Duke, quickly showcasing his skills as one of the nation’s top young basketball players.
Here are 10 things to know about the Mavericks’ newest draftee:
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1. The basics
Name: Cooper Flagg
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Birthdate: December 21, 2006 (18 years old)
Hometown: Newport, Maine
College: Duke
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Height: 6-8 Weight: 221 pounds
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2. A rare No. 1 overall pick for the Dallas Mavericks
Flagg is already in an exclusive group when it comes to the Mavericks’ history books. He’s only the second player to be drafted by the franchise with the first overall pick.
Before Flagg, Mark Aguirre was the only player to hold the distinction. The Mavericks selected Aguirre at No. 1 overall during the 1981 draft.
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3. A high school phenom
If you follow basketball, you’ve known Flagg’s name since his high school days.
He became the first freshman to be named the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year after leading Nokomis Regional High School to a state championship. After his freshman year, he transferred to Montverde Academy, a basketball prep powerhouse.
He was initially in the class of 2025, but reclassified to the 2024 recruiting class and became the top recruiting prize in the 2024 class. Flagg committed to Duke on October 30, 2023.
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As a high school prospect, he was named to the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game, won the Gatorade National Player of the Year, Mr. Basketball USA and Naismith Prep Player of the Year.
4. Outstanding year at Duke
Flagg lived up to all the hype at Duke.
He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game for the Blue Devils and led Duke to a 35-4 record en route to the Final Four.
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Flagg received every honor you could imagine during his lone college season, winning the National Player of the Year, National Freshman of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC All-Defensive Team, All-ACC First Team and was a consensus First Team All-American.
5. Competing against the NBA’s best
Flagg was the youngest player to win the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year, winning the award for his performance at the Under-17 FIBA World Cup.
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Two years later, he was named to the USA Select Team to practice with the U.S. men’s national team that was preparing for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
Just 17 years old at the time, Flagg turned heads as he competed against the men’s national team.
6. Already has a shoe deal
Flagg had a shoe deal before he ever suited up in a college basketball game.
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He signed with New Balance before his freshman year at Duke, partly due to the company’s close ties with his home state. There is a manufacturing factory that is just 25 miles from his childhood hometown in Maine.
“The connection with New Balance as a family company and a company with Maine roots means a lot to me,” Flagg told ESPN at the time. “That makes this really different and special. My mom used to go to the tent sale for back-to-school shopping there when we were kids. That really aligns the brand with my roots. It’s a perfect fit.”
7. He has a twin brother
Mavericks fans might feel like they’re seeing double if Flagg lands in Dallas.
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The Duke standout has a twin brother named Ace. Like Cooper, Ace is pretty good at basketball. Ace, a 6-8 forward, committed to Maine in 2024 and is a three-star recruit in the class of 2025.
8. Has some Dirk-like moves
Flagg is a multidimensional player capable of standing out on offense and defense. While his fundamentals are solid, he can also break out some flashy moves.
Back in March, Flagg separated from a Wake Forest defender and drained a smooth, one-legged fadeaway jumper. It’s a move Dirk Nowitzki executed to perfection throughout his Mavericks career.
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Flagg has been working on that shot for years.
9. Thrived in a visit to Dallas earlier this year
Flagg seemed pretty comfortable in North Texas the last time he visited.
The forward led Duke to an 89-62 win over SMU in an ACC matchup at Moody Coliseum. Flagg scored 24 points on 7-of-12 shooting, coming down with a team-high 11 rebounds. His highlights included a poster dunk on 7-2 SMU center Samet Yigitoglu.
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10. Grew up watching one of the greats
His NBA career hasn’t started yet, but Flagg has already been compared to one of the game’s all-time greats in Larry Bird. According to an article from Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Eisenberg, Flagg grew up watching DVDs that chronicled Bird’s career.
He would even watch replays of Celtics games from the 1985-86 season in his parents’ minivan on his way to practices.
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