Duke standout Cooper Flagg is preparing for his leap into the NBA after a highly anticipated freshman season. Long projected as the top overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg now likely knows his destination after the Dallas Mavericks unexpectedly landed the No. 1 pick in the lottery, despite having just a 1.8% chance. The Mavericks are rebuilding after trading away Luka Doncic, and Flagg could be the cornerstone of that new era.
Flagg had a stellar season at Duke, living up to the hype by averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals across 37 games. With the draft approaching, he seems poised to bring star power back to Dallas.
Recently, Flagg was asked who he believes is currently the best player in the NBA—and he didn’t hesitate. “Best player in the NBA right now, Joker. He just does so much—he impacts winning in so many different ways,” Flagg said, referring to Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.
Many around the league share that sentiment. Jokic has continued to dominate, having already earned three NBA MVP awards (2020-21, 2021-22, and 2023-24). In the 2024-25 season, he posted MVP-caliber numbers once again: 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game, while shooting 57.6% from the field and 41.7% from three.
As Flagg looks ahead to his professional future, many hope he’ll one day be in the conversation for best player in the league. For now, his focus is on becoming the No. 1 pick and helping lead the Mavericks back into title contention.
