Big Cooper Flagg Announcement Made on Wednesday
Big Cooper Flagg Announcement Made on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Wednesday marks a monumental day for Duke Blue Devils star Cooper Flagg and the entire Flagg family.
The 18-year-old, who grew up in the small town of Newport, Maine—where few athletes ever make it to the professional level—is about to see his dream become reality as the Dallas Mavericks prepare to select him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft.
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Flagg has been taking part in all the pre-draft festivities in New York, with his entire family by his side. That includes his parents, his brother Ace, and even his grandparents, who made the trip to support him ahead of the big night.
It's already a special moment for Flagg, but it got even bigger on Wednesday when Maine Governor Janet Mills reportedly declared June 25 as officially 'Flagg Day' in honor of Cooper. He now has a day in his home state named entirely after him.
Cooper Flagg's extraordinary talent and dedication to basketball has earned him national acclaim as perhaps the most promising player of his generation. He is a source of tremendous pride for Maine,' said Governor Mills. 'I have proclaimed today as Cooper Flagg Day, so all the people of Maine can celebrate his achievement, hard work, perseverance, and sportsmanship, which should inspire youth across our state to pursue their dreams with Cooper's signature determination.'
Cooper Flagg at the Combine on May 14, 2025.© David Banks-Imagn Images
Flagg was viewed as the projected No. 1 overall pick even before he began his freshman season at Duke. Yet, despite the immense expectations placed on him, he somehow managed to exceed them—leaving no doubt that he's the top player on the board.
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If he is indeed selected by the Mavericks, Flagg would join NBA legends Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and former Duke star Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks had just a 1.8% chance of landing the No. 1 pick during May's draft lottery, but defied the odds and secured it—with every intention of making Flagg the future face of their franchise for years to come.
Related: Cooper Flagg Names His 3 Favorite NBA Players to Watch Without Hesitation
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
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