The Dallas Mavericks made waves by drafting Cooper Flagg No. 1 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft — but the story doesn’t stop there. In fact, for Duke basketball fans, this might be the most rootable team in the entire NBA.
Why? Because Flagg is now teaming up with two other former Duke stars: Dereck Lively II and Kyrie Irving. That’s right — three generations of Blue Devils, now all wearing Mavericks blue.
Irving, a former No. 1 overall pick himself, brings championship experience and elite guard play. Lively, who helped Dallas reach the 2024 NBA Finals, is a rising force in the paint. And now Flagg — the most hyped Duke prospect since Zion — steps into a frontcourt already stacked with talent and ready to win right now.
Even more jaw-dropping? Luka Dončić is gone. The Mavs shocked the NBA by trading away their franchise player at the 2025 trade deadline, clearing the way for a new era built around youth, defense, and chemistry — all things Flagg brings in abundance.
With Anthony Davis, PJ Washington, and Daniel Gafford rounding out the frontcourt, Flagg won’t have the typical rookie freedom most No. 1 picks get. But that could be a blessing. He’s walking into a playoff-ready team — something nearly unheard of for a top pick.
Oh, and don’t forget: Kyrie Irving is out for most of next season with a torn ACL. That means Flagg will be thrown into the fire fast — possibly even carrying the team alongside Lively in the early months.
He’s still the heavy favorite to win Rookie of the Year, but with less pressure to carry the offense, he may also develop smarter, faster, and more efficiently.
For fans of Duke — or just great basketball — this version of the Mavericks might be the most exciting story of the 2025-26 NBA season.
