NEW YORK — In a surprising twist during a Saturday night celebration in February, Cooper Flagg and his Duke men's basketball teammates were caught off guard when freshman guard Darren Harris read aloud from his phone the shocking news: the Dallas Mavericks had traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. "I remember being with all my guys," Flagg recalled at NBA draft media day in a Midtown Manhattan hotel. "We just all started going crazy. It was such a shock."
This jaw-dropping blockbuster trade would soon shape the trajectory of Flagg's own NBA career. After the Mavericks traded Doncic on February 1, they plummeted from eighth place to tenth in the Western Conference standings. A subsequent loss in the play-in tournament officially relegated them to the draft lottery. Remarkably, Dallas, with just a 1.8 percent chance of winning the No. 1 pick, defied the odds and secured the right to select Flagg in the upcoming draft.
Rather than joining a struggling franchise focused on long-term development with minimal immediate pressure, the 18-year-old Flagg found himself poised to step into a significant role for a veteran team that had reached the playoffs or play-in tournament five times in the previous six seasons. Almost immediately, conspiracy theorists on social media suggested, without any evidence, that the NBA had rigged the lottery to send Flagg to Dallas as a replacement for Doncic.
Doncic, a Slovenian star who was acquired by Dallas in a 2018 draft-day trade, left behind enormous shoes to fill. During his six-plus seasons with the Mavericks, he became a fan favorite, leading the team to the 2024 NBA Finals and providing an endless stream of clutch performances. In his first game back in Dallas, Doncic scored 45 points in a Lakers win, receiving thunderous applause from the crowd at American Airlines Center, who even chanted "Fire Nico!" in frustration over the trade orchestrated by Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison.
While Flagg may be more mild-mannered compared to the fiery Doncic, he is an intense competitor with the potential to emerge as a franchise player, thanks to his well-rounded and polished game. Flagg earned national player of the year honors and led the Duke Blue Devils to the Final Four as a freshman, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals. Given his impressive skill set, work ethic, and defensive impact, Flagg is often regarded as the most sought-after American prospect since Anthony Davis was selected first overall by the New Orleans Hornets in 2012.
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas declared, "I happen to think he’s the best freshman player Duke has ever had. That might not mean he’s the most talented; Grant Hill and Kyrie Irving were incredibly talented players when they came out of Duke. But no other freshman produced as an 18-year-old the way Cooper Flagg did across the board in team and individual success." Bilas went on to compare Flagg's competitiveness to that of a queen on a chessboard.
Even more remarkable, Flagg, who won’t celebrate his 19th birthday until December 21, made waves in college basketball after graduating high school in just three years to expedite his journey to the NBA. His rapid ascent has been fueled by a relentless pursuit of top-tier competition. Flagg won a state title in Maine as a high school freshman but later transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida to challenge himself against the nation's elite talent. After leading Montverde to an undefeated season and national championship, Flagg reclassified to enroll at Duke in 2024, positioning himself for the 2025 draft.
Flagg shared, "There’s a quote my mom likes to say a lot: ‘If you’re the best player in the gym, then you need to find a new gym.’ For me, it was thinking about what I had left to do in high school and how much that would push me to become a better player. The decision to reclassify wasn’t too hard. I felt like it was time for me to get to a new environment and push myself to higher levels."
If Dallas selects Flagg as anticipated, he will become the youngest No. 1 pick since LeBron James, who entered the NBA straight from high school in 2003. Flagg has already earned the respect of NBA legends like James and Kevin Durant through his impressive performance in a Las Vegas scrimmage last summer. "Flagg wants to be great," James said during an episode of the "Mind the Game" podcast. "He had a hell of a year at Duke. He can play with or without the ball. His jump shot will continue to improve. He’s super athletic with a quick second jump."
Moreover, Flagg will benefit from joining a team established with Hall of Fame players such as Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, and Kyrie Irving, as well as the leadership of Hall of Fame coach Jason Kidd. This environment is expected to be invaluable in his development as a player. Flagg is already viewed as a front-runner for the NBA Rookie of the Year honors, much like Doncic was in the 2018-19 season.
With Irving sidelined indefinitely due to a knee injury, the Mavericks are in need of shot-creators and perimeter weapons, making Flagg's role even more crucial. When discussing the rationale behind trading Doncic, Harrison frequently referenced an age-old basketball adage: "Defense wins championships." Flagg's defensive prowess has drawn comparisons to players like Jayson Tatum and a young Kawhi Leonard.
Although Flagg has yet to step onto an NBA court, he understands the challenge ahead. When asked about the pressure of following in Doncic's footsteps, Flagg stated, "I wouldn’t look at anything as pressure. I’m just going to try to be myself all the time. I’m going to push myself to be better every single day and make the most out of every day. I’m not worried about living up to certain players' expectations or things like that."
