Sports
As the 2025 NBA Draft draws near, all signs point toward Cooper Flagg becoming the newest face of the Dallas as the Mavericks focused entirely on the Duke Blue Devils forward, whilst boasting the overall first pick.
As Texas strengthens its connections to the talented youngster, it seems as though he is returning the interest as he prepares to become the face of the franchise after Luka Doncic’s shocking trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.
His visit to Dallas this week only further confirmed the mutual affection, as the projected top pick took part in what was described as a “light on-court component” during his official visit, signaling that basketball evaluation is no longer necessary at this stage.
Instead, the visit centered around relationship-building and according to Kevin Gray Jr., Flagg was “having fun” throughout his time with team officials, an encouraging sign for an organization.
Cooper’s gives Dallas exclusivity
While other top prospects have scheduled workouts with multiple NBA teams, Flagg has only worked out with Dallas. The Mavericks, in turn, have not evaluated any other players for the top pick, suggesting that both parties are fully aligned on what comes next.
In addition to Cooper’s exclusive visit, subtle social media cues have added further fuel to the speculation as his mother, Kelly, recently liked a fan post on X.com, featuring a highlight reel of her son from his time at Duke.
The caption read, “Day one posting a video of Cooper Flagg until he wins a title with the Dallas Mavericks.” This interaction, while indirect, reinforces the idea that the family envisions Dallas as the ideal landing spot.
Kidd already planning for Flagg’s arrival
In fact, the Mavericks head coach, Jason Kidd, has already begun thinking about how the young forward will fit into the roster and emphasized the favorable environment that awaits Flagg in Dallas.
With veteran stars such as Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Klay Thompson on the roster, Flagg will not be forced into an immediate leadership role and can develop at a steady pace, surrounded by accomplished professionals.
“He doesn’t turn 19 until December, and so just understanding he’s young, but he’s very talented, can play both ends,” Kidd said. “Being able to have older players.
“And when I say that, out of respect, they’re not dinosaurs, but when you look at the age of 30, Ky, AD, guys that are here, Klay could definitely help him with the process of going through a rookie season. I think this is a great situation for him.”
That mentorship, coupled with a team still firmly in title contention, makes Dallas a rare environment for a No. 1 overall pick. Rather than joining a rebuilding squad, Flagg will be inserted into a roster that reached the NBA Finals just one season ago.
This news was originally published on this post .
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