In a highly anticipated move, the Dallas Mavericks selected Duke forward Cooper Flagg as the No. 1 pick in Wednesday night’s NBA draft. The Mavericks are hopeful that Flagg, a college player of the year who averaged 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds while leading Duke to the Final Four, will become their next franchise superstar, especially after trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers less than five months ago. Flagg will wear No. 32 in Dallas, joining fellow Duke alumni Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II on the roster.
Flagg’s selection was widely expected, particularly after his impressive performance at the U.S. Olympic team’s training camp last summer. For the 18-year-old from Newport, Maine, his draft night was a significant celebration in his home state. He now joins an elite group of Duke players, including Elton Brand, Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, and Paolo Banchero, who have been drafted No. 1 overall since 1999, and he marks a return to the trend of “one-and-done” college players being top picks.
Following Flagg, the San Antonio Spurs used the No. 2 pick to select Rutgers freshman Dylan Harper. Harper will look to continue the Spurs’ success with young talent, potentially following in the footsteps of Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle as a contender for NBA Rookie of the Year. The No. 3 pick brought the first real surprise and excitement of the draft, with the Philadelphia 76ers choosing Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe, much to the delight of the Philadelphia fans present at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
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