In a stunning turn of events for the 2025 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks, defying incredibly long odds of just 1.8%, secured the No. 1 overall pick. This unprecedented lottery win allowed them to select Duke University's sensational forward, Cooper Flagg, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Flagg's selection was widely anticipated, and upon hearing his name called, the 18-year-old expressed a sense of surrealism, calling it a “dream come true.”

Flagg, who will turn 19 in December, arrived at Duke with immense expectations after reclassifying to enter college a year early. He not only lived up to the hype but surpassed it, cementing his status as a generational talent. As a freshman last season, he averaged an impressive 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists, leading the Blue Devils to the NCAA Final Four. His exceptional performance earned him consensus National Player of the Year honors, including the Wooden Award and Naismith Award. Duke head coach Jon Scheyer praised Flagg as a “savant with the game,” highlighting his understanding of what it takes to win and elevate those around him. Notably, Flagg is only the second youngest player ever drafted No. 1 overall, just eight days older than LeBron James when he was selected in 2003.

The Mavericks' decision to draft Flagg comes less than five months after their polarizing trade of five-time All-NBA selection Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that drew considerable backlash from the fanbase. Flagg's arrival is expected to usher in a new era and mitigate some of the significant business concerns following the Dončić deal. He joins a Dallas team with immediate aspirations of contending in the Western Conference, despite an injury-ravaged 39-43 campaign that ended in the play-in tournament. Flagg is set to join a potent roster that could feature seasoned stars like Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving (recovering from a ruptured Achilles), and Klay Thompson, alongside Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, and Caleb Martin. Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison emphasized Flagg's “two-way player” capabilities and his hard-playing style, indicating his immediate positive impact on the team's culture and winning timeline, both in the present and future.

ESPN NBA Draft analyst Jay Bilas lauded Flagg's versatility, describing him as a “queen on a chessboard” who can guard multiple positions due to his athleticism, length, and court awareness. Bilas noted that while Flagg may not be a player who consistently scores 25 points, he consistently makes the “right play,” leading to comprehensive stat lines. Flagg himself articulated his mindset as a winner, stating, “I think my mindset has always been to be a winner anywhere I go. So I’m looking forward to being successful, and, you know, winning a lot of games.” He will wear jersey No. 32 for the Mavericks. His selection also marked him as the fifth Blue Devil to go No. 1 overall in the last 30 years, following Elton Brand, Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, and Paolo Banchero.

Beyond Flagg, the 2025 NBA Draft saw other notable picks. Two more Duke freshmen were selected in the first 10: Kon Knueppel went to Charlotte at No. 4, and Khaman Maluach was chosen at No. 10 by Houston, though he is part of a trade involving Kevin Durant and will begin his career with Phoenix. San Antonio selected Rutgers guard Dylan Harper as the No. 2 pick, an expected move. VJ Edgecombe, a Baylor star and two-time Newsday Long Island Player of the Year, was chosen No. 3 by Philadelphia. Rutgers’ Ace Bailey, initially projected as a top-3 pick, went to Utah at No. 5 after canceling pre-draft workouts, a move widely perceived as an attempt to influence his destination.

The Brooklyn Nets, entering the draft with five first-round picks, were expected to trade up from their No. 8 spot but ultimately did not. Instead, they selected BYU's 6-foot-8 freshman point guard Egor Demin at No. 8. The 19-year-old Russian is known for his exceptional passing, identified by some as the best teenage passer, despite not being an accomplished shooter. Demin expressed confidence in his future shooting abilities, stating, “I have no doubt I’m going to be a solid shooter.” The Nets continued their draft by adding French guard Nolan Traore with the No. 19 pick, North Carolina freshman guard Drake Powell (No. 22), Israeli point guard Ben Saraf (No. 26), and Michigan 7-footer Danny Wolf (No. 27), concluding the night with five new rookies.