This year’s NBA draft was very highly anticipated, with several high-profile prospects set to take the league by storm. With the first overall pick, the Dallas Mavericks began the historic night, and they made the call that everybody expected: Cooper Flagg out of Duke University.
Flagg has been the consensus top pick since his rise to stardom this past season, with averages of 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game on 48.1% shooting for the Blue Devils. As a versatile wing player, the 6’9″ star is lauded for his versatility on both offense and defense. He’s a multi-faceted scorer with high-level athleticism and excels as a playmaker with a keen awareness of the court.
The Mavericks somehow lucked into Flagg after trading Luka Doncic and then winning the draft lottery months later. It was a stroke of unbelievable fortune for the Mavs, who now get to welcome one of the game’s best prospects to their already stacked roster. The star swingman will join veterans and champions like Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and Kyrie Irving as he adapts to the NBA game.
Flagg will be going into a unique situation in Dallas, but the rewards could be great if he lives up to expectations. With superstar potential, Flagg could be in a position to win a lot of games right away if he’s able to learn quickly and follow the lead of the veterans. At the very least, his presence will give the fans hope again after they endured so much disappointment over the past six months.
