NBA Draft Prospect Cooper Flagg Shines at Combine
With the draft order now set for the top 14 picks, the NBA turned its attention toward the court at Wintrust Arena on Tuesday to begin analyzing the measurements and skill sets of the 2025 prospects.
Headlining the incoming NBA prospects was Cooper Flagg, the class’s presumed No. 1 draft pick, which of course belongs to the Dallas Mavericks after Monday’s lottery.
Flagg’s Impressive Performance
Flagg participated fully in Day 1 of the combine, a benefit of a new stipulation in the collective bargaining agreement that requires all domestic players to report to Chicago and participate throughout the week. And Flagg showed the physical attributes that make him a standout prospect, logging a 29-foot standing vertical leap and a 35.5-foot maximum vertical jump.
While he didn’t finish first in any specific category, Flagg’s sharpshooting and overall athleticism checked all the boxes necessary to maintain his very stable position as the projected first pick.
Reaction to the Draft Lottery
After his workout, Flagg was made available to the media and answered several questions, from his expectations on joining the Mavericks to how he’s handled the pressure of being the consensus No. 1 pick.
On his reaction to the draft lottery, Flagg said, “I was surprised, I think like a lot of people. It was a kind of crazy draft lottery. Was just soaking it all in like all the other guys that were there, just trying to enjoy the moment.”
Joining the Mavericks
On likely ending up with the Mavericks, Flagg stated, “Yeah, I’m just grateful to get this opportunity, any opportunity to go to any team, just to hear my name called on draft night and shake Adam Silver’s hand. I’m just really excited for this whole opportunity, the whole environment, just to go through this process. Not everybody gets to do this so I just feel really blessed.
“As far as Dallas goes, they got a lot of really good pieces. [Dereck Lively], he’s from Duke. That’s pretty cool. So I think it would be a really good opportunity.”
What Makes Cooper Flagg an Elite Prospect
Duke icon Mike Krzyzewski breaks down what makes Cooper Flagg an elite NBA draft prospect. Flagg’s impressive performance at the combine and his overall skill set make him a top choice for the Mavericks.
Handling Pressure and Expectations
On what went into the ‘Will he stay, will he go?’ question during his first and only season at Duke, Flagg said, “It was a lot of things. Just reflecting, looking back on the season we were able to have. Meeting with the coaches, meeting with my family. Just deciding what was best for me.”
On how he decided that he was mature enough mentally and physically to reclassify, skip a year, Flagg stated, “I think it was similar to moving from Maine to Montverde, knowing that I didn’t know how much I would get out of being in that same environment for another year, playing against the same people. I just kind of felt like I was ready to push myself a little more and go to the next level.”
Future Goals and Aspirations
When he hangs up his sneakers a decade or two from now, what does he hope to have accomplished? Flagg said, “The only things I’m really striving for is to be myself all the time. To live to who I am and who I stand for, and just try to get better every day and be a competitor.”
Learning from the Best
On what he learned from Summer 2024 scrimmaging with the US gold medal Olympic team, Flagg said, “Yeah, that whole experience for me, I was really blessed and grateful for the opportunity. Such a big learning experience for me, being able to go out there and share the court with a bunch of Hall of Fame caliber players. But even just the select team itself, getting to talk to Jalen Suggs, Payton Pritchard, a bunch of guys that are great young talents in the league. That was maybe even more of a beneficial part for me, being able to pick their brains and knowing that a lot of them have recently gone through this process, going through college and making the next step. So, yeah that whole experience was a big learning experience, being on the court definitely gave me a lot of confidence moving into the season.”
Handling High Expectations
On how he’s been handling the high expectations, Flagg stated, “Just having a tight circle. Having a tight family group. Supporters, people around me, those are the opinions that I pull from and lean on when I need feedback. Other than that, I just try to keep my circle tight and push everybody else away.”
Coping with Doubts and Uncertainties
On dealing with doubts, uncertainties, Flagg said, “Having my parents close to me, my friends, my tight circle. There’s so many ups and downs that you’re gonna go through with everything. So it’s kind of just how you deal with it, how you come back from all the lows. That’s something I’ve had to work through over time whether it’s my sophomore year [in high school], losing in the first round of the playoffs, or losing in the Final 4. Just dealing with them, having your people close to you and helping you get through the tough things.”
Praise from NBA Legends
On guys like LeBron James, Kevin Love speaking very highly of him, Flagg said, “Yeah I think the little kid inside of me gets really happy and is kind of mindblown by it. And then, the rest of me just sees that it’s a product of the hard work I’ve put in over time, all the hours I’ve been in the gym. So obviously it’s really great to hear stuff like that from Hall of Fame-level players.”
The Mavericks, who had a 1.8% chance of winning the lottery, will have a chance to draft Duke’s Cooper Flagg.
NBA teams have been allowed to sell one jersey sponsorship since the 2017-18 season.
