With just a 1.8% chance entering the night, Dallas Mavericks now hold the rights to select Duke’s Cooper Flagg, the consensus top prospect and a generational talent expected to reshape the franchise’s future.

Cooper Flagg’s freshman season averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, while showcasing elite defense with 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per contest. Flagg’s versatility on both ends of the floor, combined with his high basketball IQ, earned him national player of the year honors and made him the safest No. 1 pick in years.

NBA and Fan Reaction: Excitement and Anticipation

The NBA community quickly buzzed with excitement over the Mavericks’ lottery win and the prospect of Cooper Flagg joining the league. Fans and analysts alike see Flagg as a transformative player who could elevate Dallas back into playoff contention.

LeBron James reacted to the Mavericks’ surprising lottery win with a mix of amusement and disbelief. Taking to social media shortly after the results were announced, LeBron posted a series of crying-laughing emojis, capturing the shock felt across the league given Dallas’ slim 1.8% odds. 

Winning the No. 1 pick is a pivotal moment for the Mavericks, coming just months after they traded away franchise icon Luka Doncic in a blockbuster deal. The move signaled a clear shift toward rebuilding, and landing Cooper Flagg with the top pick offers Dallas a chance to reset around a promising young star.

Comparisons to Victor Wembanyama

While Victor Wembanyama was selected first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft and made an immediate impact with the San Antonio Spurs as the 2024 Rookie of the Year, Cooper Flagg is emerging as a similarly rare talent in the 2025 class.

Wembanyama’s blend of size, skill, and defensive dominance set a new standard for generational prospects, and Flagg’s combination of versatility, basketball IQ, and two-way ability positions him as a potential franchise-changing player in his own right.

As Wembanyama’s NBA journey continues to captivate fans, the arrival of Flagg in Dallas promises to add another exciting chapter to the league’s evolving landscape of young stars.