The Cooper Flagg era has officially begun in Dallas.
On Wednesday night, the Dallas Mavericks made the long-anticipated move of selecting Cooper Flagg as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The former Duke Blue Devils standout is expected to be the new face of the franchise following the stunning midseason trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.
But it wasn’t just Flagg’s draft selection that made headlines. A post-draft handshake between Flagg and former Mavericks great Mark Aguirre has taken social media by storm.
In a video shared by the NBA’s official Instagram account, Flagg and Aguirre exchanged a long, smooth, and undeniably familiar handshake—prompting a flurry of reactions online:
“Handshake was deep,” one fan commented.
Another added: “You see the handshake. Coop good 🤞🏾”
“Long [expletive] handshake lmao,” joked a viewer.
One social media user wrote, “That handshake with the elder said it all. Coop is already good to go! (We brothas know when we know
“Aye the fact that Cooper did that handshake so fluently He been hanging around some brothas foreal lol.”
And finally: “Handshake looks like they’ve done it before lmao.”
It’s more than just a viral moment—it’s symbolic. Both Flagg and Aguirre share a unique bond: They were each selected No. 1 overall by the Mavericks, more than four decades apart. Aguirre went first in 1981 and carved out a legacy in Dallas, averaging 24.9 points per game over seven seasons before being traded to the Detroit Pistons.
While Aguirre never captured a title in Dallas, Flagg has the opportunity to change that narrative.
With high expectations and a fresh start for the Mavericks, Flagg’s journey is just beginning—but if that handshake is any indication, he’s already earned some serious respect.
