Duke made its feelings known on Wednesday after the Dallas Mavericks landed the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery and the right to select Cooper Flagg—posting a not-so-subtle graphic on social media with a simple caption.

Mar 3, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) reacts as he heads to the bench during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils won 93-60. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images / Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images

During the prime of his career, Mavericks great Dirk Nowitzki often was unfairly compared to Larry Bird. Potentially, eventually, Flagg might be the much better Bird comp because of his two-way abilities; he’s more athletic than Bird and Nowitzki.

A resurfaced video shows a 13-year-old Flagg running basketball drills while wearing a Mavericks t-shirt. Despite barely being a teenager, Flagg is shown running back and forth across the baseline to defend a corner three-point shot. As he travels back toward the basketball, Flagg is passed the ball, which he dunks repeatedly.

When the Dallas Mavericks won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery on Monday night, it locked in more than just a franchise-altering moment—it ensured former Duke star Cooper Flagg would become the No.

The college basketball legend spoke about Flagg’s skill set a day after the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA draft lottery, setting themselves up to select Flagg with the top pick in June. Krzyzewski recalled seeing Flagg play at Montverde Academy as a high schooler.

There isn’t much to complain about with Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg’s game. The 18-year-old forward averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists

Monday was a big day for Duke star Cooper Flagg as he learned of his (likely) future home for the foreseeable future. To start the day at the NBA Draft Combine he measured nearly an inch taller than he did before his one-and-done Blue Devils season.