June 26, 2025 — Dallas, Texas
The Dallas Mavericks’ future officially began last night, and it started with a handshake.
Shortly after hearing his name called in the 2025 NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg—the No. 1 overall pick—was already focused on what comes next. Clad in a sharp suit and a wide smile, Flagg shared a moment with his new head coach, NBA Hall of Famer Jason Kidd, as the two met for the first time in Dallas.
“Ready to get to work,” Flagg said, as cameras captured his first interaction with Kidd at the Mavericks’ draft headquarters.
For Dallas fans, it was a moment that symbolized both promise and pressure. After an underwhelming postseason exit, the Mavericks made a bold move, trading up to secure the top pick. Their choice: the 6’9” phenom from Maine who has dominated headlines since high school and led Duke to a deep March Madness run earlier this year.
“He’s got that rare mix of intensity, IQ, and versatility,” Kidd said after the draft. “Cooper plays with a chip on his shoulder, and that’s the kind of edge we need.”
Flagg, known for his defensive tenacity and high-level playmaking, brings a new dimension to a Mavericks team still led by superstar Luka Dončić. While questions remain about how the two will mesh on the court, both Kidd and the Mavericks front office seem confident they’ve found their future cornerstone.
The rookie already seems locked in.
“I’ve admired Coach Kidd’s leadership and vision from afar,” Flagg said. “Now I get to learn from him every day. It’s surreal—but I’m here to win.”
Sources within the Mavericks organization say Flagg will begin summer training with the team next week, and expectations are sky-high. Dallas hasn’t had a No. 1 overall pick since 1981, when they selected Mark Aguirre. Now, more than four decades later, the city has another top-tier talent to rally behind.
Kidd—who has overseen Dončić’s rise and guided the Mavs to the 2022 Western Conference Finals—now faces a new challenge: integrating a generational rookie without disrupting the chemistry of a playoff-tested core.
“Cooper doesn’t have to carry the load from Day 1,” Kidd said. “We want him to grow into it. But trust me—he’s going to help us win.”
Flagg echoed the sentiment. “This is about more than potential. It’s about competing every night. I’m not just happy to be here—I’m here to make a difference.”
As he walked off the stage and into his future, one thing was clear: Cooper Flagg is ready for Dallas, and Dallas is ready for Cooper Flagg.
The countdown to tip-off begins.
