The Dallas basketball scene was rocked by the stunning trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving fans heartbroken over the departure of the 26-year-old superstar who led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals two seasons ago, only to fall to the Boston Celtics. However, hope has been reignited with the Mavericks securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, selecting 18-year-old Cooper Flagg, the fourth freshman to win the National Player of the Year Award. Paired with Anthony Davis, another former recipient of the award acquired in the Doncic trade, and veteran Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks are poised for a competitive season.
On the WNBA side, the Dallas Wings also landed the top pick, drafting UConn national championPaige Bueckers, the likely 2025 Rookie of the Year. It’s a rare feat for one city to claim first overall picks in both the NBA and WNBA in the same year, and with generational talents like Flagg and Bueckers, Dallas could see championships and MVPs in their future.
Jason Kidd’s Praise and Advice for Bueckers and Flagg
Dallas Mavericks head coach and NBA legend Jason Kidd, a former Rookie of the Year and five-time assist champion, recently spoke courtside during a Wings game, offering high praise for the city’s basketball resurgence. Reflecting on the arrival of Paige Bueckers and Cooper Flagg as No. 1 picks, Kidd told reporters, “The basketball gods blessed us with two top picks in Paige and Cooper, signaling a bright future for Dallas.”
He shared a piece of advice for Bueckers, whose rookie season ends next month with the Wings out of playoff contention: “Keep learning. I’m here watching and learning, and we can all grow from each other.”
Kidd, who coaches Flagg but not Bueckers, sees her as one of the world’s best, predicting, “We’re getting better in Dallas, and we’re going to win championships.” Despite a recent 90-81 loss to the Valkyries, where Bueckers’ historic streak of 30 consecutive double-digit scoring games ended, her 44-point performance last week remains the most by a WNBA rookie in league history and the most points scored by any player this season.
Despite the Wings’ elimination from playoff contention, Paige Bueckers remains on track to win Rookie of the Year, though she’s unlikely to break Caitlin Clark’s single-season rookie scoring record of 769 points, sitting at 590 with six games left. Still her season averages are from an All WNBA player, 19 points, 5.2 assists with just 2 turnovers. She needs 37 more assists to claim the Wings’ single-season assist record of 199.
Bright Future for Flagg and the City of Dallas
On the NBA side, Cooper Flagg’s arrival signals a fresh start for the Mavericks, who aim to stay competitive in a tough Western Conference. With Jason Kidd’s championship vision and the star power of two No. 1 picks, Dallas basketball is in capable hands, poised for future glory in both the NBA and WNBA.
When the NBA season begins Bueckers is likely to attend Mavericks games to support Flagg, and a photo of the two No. 1 picks together is inevitable. While fans will long mourn Doncic’s departure, the future of Dallas basketball shines bright with Flagg and Bueckers leading the charge.
For Flagg and the Mavericks, the 2025-26 season looks promising on paper, even with Kyrie Irving sidelined until January or February 2026 due to injury. The roster, featuring Flagg, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, D’Angelo Russell, P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and Max Christie, has the depth to compete in the Western Conference-if they can stay healthy, as injuries have plagued Dallas in recent years.
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