The Dallas Mavericks believe they landed their future on June 25 when they selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA draft. The 6-foot-9 forward out of Duke may be just 18, but his résumé, advanced skill set and steely confidence have already convinced Texas basketball fans—and many league executives—that a new era is beginning in Big D.
Small-Town Maine to National Phenomenon
Cooper Flagg’s journey feels lifted from a sports movie. Raised in Newport, Maine (population 3,100), he first splashed onto the national radar at the 2022 FIBA U-17 World Cup, where he averaged 9.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.9 blocks while leading Team USA to gold. A year later he transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, collected Naismith National Player of the Year honors and capped his prep career with back-to-back GEICO Nationals titles.
That résumé put him atop nearly every reputable mock draft before he even stepped on Duke’s campus last fall. Still, questions lingered about how quickly his wiry 210-pound frame would translate to the physicality of high-major hoops. Flagg answered by posting 17.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and a nation-leading 2.7 blocks in only 30 minutes per game while shooting 37 percent from three. He became the first freshman to win both ACC Player and Defensive Player of the Year since Tim Duncan in 1994.
Why Dallas Couldn’t Pass
Dallas entered draft night convinced it needed front-court talent to complement Luka Dončić’s heliocentric offense. Cooper Flagg fits the bill in three essential ways:
- Defensive Versatility
His 7-foot wingspan and elite anticipation allow him to switch across four positions. Opponents shot just 39 percent at the rim when Cooper Flagg was the primary defender, per Synergy Sports tracking—numbers comparable to NBA rim-protectors Evan Mobley and Jaren Jackson Jr. in college. - Play-Finishing and Play-Making
Flagg ranked in the 93rd percentile as a cutter and the 88th percentile as a spot-up shooter. More intriguing, Duke ran “Delay” sets through him at the elbows, where he consistently hit back-door cutters—exactly the type of secondary creation Dallas lacked last season. - Motor and Intangibles
Scouts rave about his competitiveness, a trait on full display when he logged a 23-point, 15-rebound, 7-block triple-double in Duke’s Sweet 16 win over Arizona. Mavericks GM Nico Harrison labeled him “the hardest-playing guy on any court he steps on,” echoing a sentiment heard throughout draft workouts.
Projected Role as a Rookie
Head coach Jason Kidd plans to bring Cooper Flagg along as the starting power forward from Day 1, sliding veteran Grant Williams to a sixth-man role. Expect Dallas to feature him in:
- Pick-and-Roll Defence – switching or icing side actions to keep Dončić out of mismatches.
- Short-Roll Playmaking – punishing traps on Luka with Flagg’s 1-dribble floaters or skip passes to shooters.
- Secondary Transition – trailing for spot-up threes (he hit 58 percent of his transition triples at Duke) and cleaning the glass for put-backs.
Minutes will hover around 28–30 early, with usage gradually increasing as he acclimates to the 82-game grind.
Areas to Watch
- Physical Strength – Cooper Flagg added 12 pounds in Duke’s high-performance program but still gives up bulk to established fours like Zion Williamson. Dallas’ performance staff placed him on an offseason regimen emphasizing functional strength without sacrificing mobility.
- Three-Point Consistency – His mechanics are clean, yet he shot just 72 percent from the foul line. Improving that baseline will help him reach the coveted 38–40 percent NBA arc.
- Avoiding Foul Trouble – Aggressive shot-blockers often rack up early fouls. Montverde coach Kevin Boyle noted Flagg’s knack for “block timing, not block hunting,” but NBA veterans will test that discipline.
Impact on Dallas’ Ceiling
Last season Dallas finished 22nd in defensive rating and 28th in rebound percentage. Cooper Flagg directly addresses both weaknesses. Pairing him with rim-runner Dereck Lively II gives Kidd a twin-tower look reminiscent of Cleveland’s Mobley-Allen duo, only with more perimeter creation.
Offensively, Dončić and Kyrie Irving shoulder historic usage levels. A spacing big who can also initiate possessions unlocks new lineup combinations—think Dončić plus bench shooters flanked by Flagg at small-ball five, mirroring Denver’s Jokic-bench staggering.
Early Vegas win-total projections already bumped Dallas from 45.5 to 48.5 post-draft, tied for fifth in the rugged West. NBA.com analyst John Schumann argues Cooper Flagg could be worth “two or three extra wins right away just by cleaning up defensive possessions and sparking transition.”
Rookie of the Year Race
Caesars Sportsbook opened Cooper Flagg at +275 to win Rookie of the Year, narrowly behind projected No. 1 pick Dylan Harper (-110). Voters often favor counting stats over impact metrics, but playing alongside a usage magnet like Dončić might cap Flagg’s raw scoring. Still, if he averages something like 15–8–3 with elite defensive numbers for a playoff team, his candidacy will be difficult to ignore.
What Scouts Say
- Fran Fraschilla (ESPN International) – “Best American prospect since Anthony Davis. The defensive floor is All-NBA. Offensively, imagine if Shane Battier had the ball-handling of Paul George at 18.”
- Mike Schmitz (Portland Trail Blazers Assistant GM) – “He’s the rare teenager who affects winning without plays called for him. That’s a superstar foundation.”
- Unnamed Western Conference Exec – “He’s Chet Holmgren’s instincts with a sturdier build. Dallas got scary.”
Off-Court Brand Potential
Cooper Flagg’s aw-shucks Maine persona contrasts sharply with the big-market bravado typical of top lottery picks. Yet that authenticity—he still hunts whitetail deer every November—has already attracted brands. He signed with Nike’s Jordan Brand pre-draft and filmed a viral ad in rural Maine featuring his twin brother, Ace. Social engagement rates (likes per follower) top 17 percent, triple the average NBA rookie.
Looking Down the Road
If Flagg meets even a conservative projection, Dallas could boast two franchise pillars under age 26, a luxury few contenders own. Salary-cap maths: Dončić’s super-max runs through 2031; Flagg’s rookie scale plus inevitable max extension could keep the duo together into the next decade, pending luxury-tax appetite.
Championship windows open and close quickly in the NBA. Landing an 18-year-old who blends All-Defensive upside with multi-level scoring instincts might have propped that window wide for Dallas.
Bottom Line
Cooper Flagg checks every modern-NBA box: switch defender, secondary creator, spacer, rim protector, high motor. Yet his biggest asset may be his demeanor—unfazed by hype, eager to learn, relentless in competition. Dallas fans watched Dirk Nowitzki develop for years before claiming the ultimate prize. With Flagg, the learning curve could be much steeper but the timeline shorter.
Basketball’s newest phenom isn’t just another blue-chip prospect; Cooper Flagg is the blueprint for the league’s next positionless superstar—and he’s wearing Maverick blue.
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