Cooper Flagg Turns Heads With Jayson Tatum Message After NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Cooper Flagg entered the 2025 NBA Draft with enormous expectations after a dominant freshman season at Duke. The 18-year-old forward had long been projected as the No. 1 overall pick, and on draft night, the Dallas Mavericks made it official.

The drama was non-existent in Wednesday’s first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Cooper Flagg was presumed to be the pick all along for the Dallas Mavericks at No. 1 overall, making the official announcement from NBA commissioner Adam Silver all but a formality.

Once Irving returns from a torn ACL, probably two or three months into next season, a healthy Dallas starting lineup is likely to include three one-and-done Blue Devils. The Mavs got center Dereck Lively II with the 12th overall pick in 2023.