Cooper Flagg remains the projected top pick for the 2025 NBA Draft, but league executives are far from unanimous on how high his NBA ceiling truly is.
Following Monday night’s draft lottery, which saw the Dallas Mavericks defy the odds to land the No. 1 overall selection, debate intensified around the 18-year-old Duke standout.
According to Howard Beck of The Ringer, one team executive called Flagg a “superstar” talent but stopped short of labeling him a future MVP.
Another compared Flagg favorably to All-Stars but said he is not in the tier of past No. 1 picks like Victor Wembanyama or Zion Williamson.
A third executive suggested Flagg’s ceiling might be that of a “very good” player—effective but not a franchise-changing star.
Despite the mixed evaluations, Flagg’s résumé at Duke speaks for itself.
He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists while shooting 48.1% from the field across 37 starts for the Blue Devils.
His season included an ACC-record 42-point performance against Notre Dame and 500+ points, 100+ assists, and 30+ blocks in the regular season—a first in over two decades.
He led Duke to an ACC title, a No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed, and a Final Four appearance before declaring for the draft.
J. Kyle Mann of The Ringer compared Flagg’s skill set to a mix of Nicolas Batum, Shawn Marion, Andrei Kirilenko, and Scottie Pippen.
The Mavericks, who endured a tumultuous 39–43 campaign, now find themselves with a rare opportunity to add a high-upside talent to a core featuring Anthony Davis.
The franchise’s lone prior championship came in 2011 with Marion playing a key role, prompting speculation about whether Flagg could become a modern-day “Matrix” for Dallas.
Still, questions linger about whether the Maine native is more of a high-level role player than a future face of the league.
The 2025 NBA Draft will take place June 25 and 26, with Dallas officially on the clock as evaluations continue and opinions around Flagg remain divided.
