Duke power forward Cooper Flagg was selected number 1 overall in the NBA Draft. The young player from Maine, Newport, will join the Dallas Mavericks to try to fill the void left by Slovenian Luka Doncic, who left to join the new Los Angeles Lakers roster.
Cooper Flagg was considered one of the top five college players in the National Basketball League (NBA) Draft, along with Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, VJ Edgecombe, and Tre Johnson. However, it was well known that it would be the “Ghost of Maine” who would take the first pick on this unforgettable night.
Cooper Flagg to shine for the Dallas Mavericks:
A Duke star and considered a generational talent, Flagg, who has generated enormous buzz before reaching the NBA, will join a Mavericks team that had luck on their side when they were selected number one in the draft despite only having a 1.8% chance.
Flagg averaged 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds to lead Duke to the Final Four. The 6’8″ (2.03 m) forward led the Blue Devils in all five major statistical categories and has already proven his game will hold up well against the pros after playing well last summer following an invitation to the U.S. Olympic training camp.
Star teammates for Cooper Flagg, the first pick in the Draft:
Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, and Derek Lively II are just some of the names that will accompany Cooper in the upcoming NBA season. Dallas reached the NBA Finals in 2024, where they lost to the Boston Celtics, but last season, the season that saw Doncic’s departure, they were left out of the playoffs.
The 18-year-old forward was the most coveted piece in this draft, and many NBA teams threw their seasons away in hopes of improving their chances of landing the number one pick.
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