When the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February, it sent shockwaves through the NBA.
Four months later, the organization made another franchise-defining move by selecting Cooper Flagg as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
For many fans, Flagg immediately became the face of the Mavericks‘ future, and with that came the inevitable comparisons to Doncic.
But for the 18-year-old rookie, the pressure isn’t something that weighs on him. Speaking to reporters this week, Flagg explained that the structure of his first season and the support of his teammates have made his transition far smoother than expected.
“No, not really. To me, I feel like kind of the opportunity that I was given and put into this year took a lot of that pressure off of me,” Flagg said, according to reporter Joey Mistretta.
Flagg praises veteran teammates for support
Flagg isn’t entering a rebuilding situation typical of most top draft picks. Dallas has surrounded him with one of the deepest and most experienced rosters in the league.
Anthony Davis, who joined the team in the blockbuster Doncic trade, headlines a lineup that also includes P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, Klay Thompson, and D’Angelo Russell. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving continues to recover from injury and is expected to rejoin the squad later in the season.
That mix of talent has allowed Flagg to ease into his role without the weight of unrealistic expectations.
“We’re a really deep team, I think that takes a lot of that pressure off of me,” Flagg said. “To just be myself and not worry about expectations to be like anybody else, but just to be me and help this team win as much as I can.”
Flagg’s self-assured approach fits seamlessly with head coach Jason Kidd‘s vision of a balanced, defense-first team. While Doncic‘s departure initially sparked skepticism, Dallas’ revamped lineup has drawn intrigue across the league.
Analysts have already taken note of the Mavericks‘ potential. Some, including Stephen A. Smith, have labeled Dallas as the “kryptonite” to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, pointing to their combination of elite defensive anchors and high-IQ veterans.
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