The Day That Changed Cooper Flagg’s Destiny: From Uncertainty to a Bright Future in Dallas
On May 12th, Cooper Flagg’s family gathered in his hotel room in Chicago, awaiting a crucial moment. Ace, his twin brother, his parents Ralph and Kelly, were preparing for the 2025 NBA draft lottery. Before heading to the event at the McCormick Place Convention Center, they debated the future of the Duke star, who was shaping up to be the first overall draft pick. They had considered possible destinations and their implications. This final conversation would be key to the start of his NBA career. For months, they knew that the Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, and Charlotte Hornets had the greatest chances of getting the first pick. Each team presented its pros and cons. Washington offered proximity to Maine and North Carolina, where the family divided their time. Charlotte, in addition, had a Duke fanbase. Utah, for its part, was led by Danny Ainge, whom Cooper’s parents admired. They also considered a negative aspect common to many prospects: Flagg had never experienced prolonged defeats. Although he said he wanted to “just play basketball”, there was concern about how he would emotionally adapt to that dynamic. Jon Scheyer, Duke coach, admitted that it would be difficult to imagine Cooper going through a season with many losses.The family, guided by its representatives, knew that the cameras would be on them during the lottery. They were advised to maintain a neutral stance to any reaction. Flagg sat in the front row next to his Duke teammate, Kon Knueppel. The family watched as NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum announced the first ten picks in record time. The surprises were not long in coming. Washington and Utah fell out of the top four, while the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs moved up. The family was trying to maintain composure in the face of new possibilities. Flagg had even imagined playing with Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs’ first pick in 2023. Then, Tatum announced the next pick: Charlotte. This meant that Dallas, San Antonio, and the Philadelphia 76ers would be in the top three. The odds of this happening were minimal. Finally, it was announced that the 76ers would pick third and the Spurs second, which meant the Mavericks, with only a 1.8% chance of winning the lottery, had triumphed. The Mavericks achieved the fourth-lowest rise since 1985, a drastic change. In a matter of minutes, the Flagg family’s plans changed completely. The announcement caused shock in the NBA. The Mavericks, a franchise and a fanbase still recovering from Luka Dončić’s departure, now had the opportunity to select another generational talent. The Flagg family was stunned. Dallas was not in their calculations. Text messages arrived: Were they happy or sad? Why weren’t they reacting? Did they realize what had happened? Instead of the pressure of being the best player on a losing team, he would now be on one that, a year ago, reached the NBA Finals. He would become the man who, according to the narrative, would heal the wounds left by Dončić’s departure. Flagg would face a different pressure: helping stars like Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis win in the NBA, and quickly.“It would be hard for me to imagine Cooper going through a season with a lot of losses”
Jon Scheyer, Duke Coach
Flagg’s impact was felt immediately, first in the team’s revenue. Between 75% and 80% of season tickets were renewed. $8 million in new tickets were sold in the three days following the lottery. After Dončić’s departure, a company that was considering a sponsorship partnership with the Mavericks paused it. After watching the lottery and the positive reaction from the fans, the same company agreed to a new sponsorship deal with the team. After the lottery, Flagg traveled the country, training and attending family events. The family already has an Airbnb booked in Las Vegas for the summer league. Recently, the family visited a Hugo Boss store in Los Angeles so that Flagg could try on a suit for draft night. The magnitude of the moment and the start of his NBA journey became evident to everyone. They looked at each other and couldn’t believe how quickly everything had happened.“We never considered the impossible could happen on May 12th”
Source of the Mavericks
“He is in a good place mentally. He is in a good place physically, and I think he is ready for this next chapter of his career”
Matt MacKenzie, Flagg’s Coach
