The Cooper Flag sweepstakes have come to an end.
On Monday night, the Mavericks took home the top pick in the NBA Draft lottery, opting for flags from Duke, though there was an unexpected twist in their decision-making.
The Mavs went in with the 11th best odds—just a 1.8% chance of landing the first pick—after having made a significant trade involving superstar Luka Doncic.
Flag will be integrated into a revamped roster featuring seasoned players like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis.
Considered the number one consensus pick for the 2025 draft, Flag had previously reclassified in high school, moving up from the 2025 high school class to 2024.
He made a quick ascent in the rankings alongside Rutgers’ Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, who rounded out the top three players in the draft.
During his 37 games as a Blue Devil, Flag collected multiple accolades despite Duke’s eventual defeat to Houston.
He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks, shooting 48.1% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc, alongside an 84% success rate at the free-throw line.
As one of the major contributors leading Duke to the Final Four, his performances earned him several awards, including the Wooden Award, Naismith Award, AP Player of the Year, Consensus First Team All-American, and ACC Player of the Year.
Flag possesses a unique skill set, showcasing exemplary two-way play and an extensive offensive arsenal, enhanced by his defensive capabilities as a 6-foot-9 wing.
At just 18 years old and hailing from Maine, he spent two seasons at the prestigious Montverde Academy after starting his high school journey at Nocomis Regional High School in Newport, Maine.
Interestingly enough, he won’t turn 19 until the middle of his rookie season.
Looking ahead to the rest of the draft, Harper is projected to go second to the Spurs, but the third pick by the 76ers is still uncertain, with Bailey also being a key prospect in the mix.
