There isn’t much to complain about with Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg’s game. Flagg is almost certain to go No. 1 overall to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA draft in six weeks, but before he hears his name called by commissioner Adam Silver,

Duke Blue Devils standout Cooper Flagg will soon join the NBA. He is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, who won the top pick despite only having a 1.

During the prime of his career, Mavericks great Dirk Nowitzki often was unfairly compared to Larry Bird. Potentially, eventually, Flagg might be the much better Bird comp because of his two-way abilities; he’s more athletic than Bird and Nowitzki.

When the Dallas Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery on Monday night, it locked in more than just a franchise-altering moment—it ensured former Duke star Cooper Flagg would become the No.

NBA fans on X chimed in with their reactions to the Flagg-Pippen comparison as it grabbed attention on social media. One user commented that Flagg's ability to take over a game is more reminiscent of LeBron James than Scottie Pippen, while another questioned whether Flagg is the same type of "quick-twitch" athlete Pippen was in his prime.

The college basketball legend spoke about Flagg’s skill set a day after the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA draft lottery, setting themselves up to select Flagg with the top pick in June. Krzyzewski recalled seeing Flagg play at Montverde Academy as a high schooler.

Dallas Mavericks fans have spent the last few months in something akin to open rebellion against the team’s front office after franchise icon Luka Dončić was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.