In a jaw-dropping turn of events last Monday night, the Dallas Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery—securing the No. 1 overall pick despite having less than a 2% chance. The victory, which many are calling the Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes, could dramatically alter the franchise’s future.
Despite a season plagued by injuries, the Mavericks nearly made the playoffs. Now, with a chance to add Duke’s standout freshman Cooper Flagg, the outlook has shifted entirely.
“We love that kid from Duke,” head coach Jason Kidd shared on the DLLS Mavs Show. “I’ve been studying him for a while—he’s the answer.”
Flagg, a 6-foot-9 two-way phenom, averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game. He led Duke to a Final Four appearance before falling to Houston. A versatile three-level scorer with elite defensive potential, Flagg is widely seen as a franchise-altering talent.
While Kidd is clearly enamored with Flagg, he also acknowledged the overall depth in this year’s draft.
“This draft is stacked,” Kidd noted. “There are some impressive young men at Rutgers, too. It’s exciting. But right now, my focus is on that kid from Duke.”
The Mavericks endured a brutal season full of setbacks: Kyrie Irving tore his ACL, Anthony Davis missed time with an adductor strain, Daniel Gafford battled a knee issue, and Derrick Lively II was sidelined for more than half the year due to an ankle fracture.
“It felt like four or five seasons in one,” Kidd reflected. “Injuries, trades, more injuries… we just kept fighting. I’m proud of the resilience in that locker room.”
With the potential arrival of Cooper Flagg, the Mavericks could soon find themselves back in the championship conversation—this time with a rising star alongside a veteran core.
Leave a Reply