Ever since the Dallas Mavericks won the 2025 NBA draft lottery despite having just a 1.8% chance of doing so, fans have long known who the team plans to take with the No. 1 overall pick on June 25.
While there’s plenty of intriguing prospects in this year’s draft class — Rutgers guard Dylan Harper, Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe, Rutgers forward Ace Bailey, Texas guard Tre Johnson — few would argue Duke freshman Cooper Flagg is the hands-down best player available.
Flagg’s resume includes winning the National College Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, and NABC and ACC Freshman of the Year, plus the Lute Olsen, Julius Erving, and Wayman Tisdale awards.
Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg #51 takes part in a shooting drill during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena on May 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg #51 takes part in a shooting drill during the 2025 NBA Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena on May 13, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Flagg also earned first-team All-ACC, ACC All-Defensive team, and ACC All-Freshman team honors as well plus he was named a consensus first-team All-American.
And while Flagg to Dallas is the worst-kept secret in the NBA right now, the Mavericks seemingly jumped the gun in announcing the news on their official team website 12 days before they can officially confirm they’re picking the Duke phenom, according to Front Office Sports.
“The Mavs have seemingly announced their selection of Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick on their website. The draft is in 12 days,” FOS wrote on X.
The post sparked some confusion and strong reactions among fans on social media.
“Can they do that? Is that legal?” one fan asked.
“Can we get any more embarrassing? Like seriously man. It stinks. Because I know it’s an honest mistake by someone, but we are already so far under the microscope,” another fan exclaimed.
“Announcing it 12 days early is wild 😂😂😂,” one user quipped.
“The Mavs stay embarrassing themselves,” a second user scoffed.
Though there’s been speculation the Mavericks, who finished as the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference and made it to the finals of the NBA play-in tournament before being ousted by the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies, could trade the top pick for a king’s ransom, ESPN insider Tim MacMahon recently reported that the Mavericks are locked in on taking and building around Flagg.
“Patrick Dumont, the governor of the Dallas Mavericks, recognizes the gift horse that was delivered to this franchise,” MacMahon said. “The Dallas Mavericks will be picking Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick.”
MacMahon’s comments about Flagg being a “gift horse” stem from the team’s ill-fated trade of superstar point guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers back in early February.
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