NBA Draft 2025: Projected top pick Cooper Flagg touts 'positionless' mindset, will to improve
Former Duke forward Cooper Flagg is expected to be the first player selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday in Brooklyn. File Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
June 25 (UPI) -- Projected No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg said he has a "positionless" mentality, is open to multiple roles and prioritizes improvement heading into the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday in Brooklyn.
The first round will start at 8 p.m. EDT and air on ABC, ESPN and the ESPN app. Flagg, Rutgers stars Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, Baylor's V.J. Edgecombe and several of Flagg's former Duke teammates, including Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach, are among the projected Top 10 picks.
"It's incredible to be her and be in these moments," Flagg told reporters Tuesday. "This is stuff I've dreamed about since I was a little kid. I think being here is surreal. I don't think it's really set in yet.
"I'm just trying to go through each moment and enjoy it."
The Dallas Mavericks are widely expected to select Flagg to open Wednesday's first round. The former Duke sensation -- who earned multiple National Player of the Year honors as a freshman -- is set to join a lineup led by All-Stars Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson.
Flagg said the Mavericks have not yet informed him that he will be the top pick, but called his pre-draft visit with the the team "incredible."
The All-American drew comparisons to Kevin Garnett and Kawhi Leonard through the pre-draft process due to his ability to impact games as a two-way player. He also was compared to Jayson Tatum, Scottie Pippen and Lamar Odom, among others. Flagg measured in at 6-foot-7 (without shoes), 221 pounds at the NBA Combine.
"I wouldn't look at anything as pressure," Flagg said. "I think me going into whatever situation I go into, I'm just going to try and be myself all the time and I'm going to push myself to be better and better every single day and make the most out of every day.
"I'm not worried about living up to certain players' expectations or things like that. I'm just going to be myself and really just try and get better every single day."
Because of the Mavericks' versatile roster and Flagg's skillset, the rookie could be plugged in as a point-forward and given ball-handling responsibilities.
"I think positionless is a great way to put it," Flagg said. "I'll do whatever coach wants me to do. I'll play any role. For me, it's about just doing a ton of different things on the court, just being an impact player, impacting both sides of the ball at a high level and impacting winning at a high level.
"Whether that's getting it off the rim on a rebound and pushing in transition, that's something I feel like i can do at a high level. I would love to do that. Or if it's playing off ball, cutting, slashing, spotting up, I'm ready to do whatever, whatever that may be."
The San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets and Utah Jazz are set to follow the Mavericks as the first five teams to select players in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Brooklyn Nets own a league-high five selections in the first round, with the rights to the Nos. 8, 19, 22, 26 and 27 picks.
The San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns and reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder own two picks apiece.
The second round of the 2025 NBA Draft will air at 8 p.m. Thursday on ESPN and the ESPN app.
NBA Draft order
1. Dallas Mavericks
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Philadelphia 76ers
4. Charlotte Hornets
5. Utah Jazz
6. Washington Wizards
7. New Orleans Pelicans
8. Brooklyn Nets
9. Houston Rockets
10. Phoenix Suns
11. Portland Trail Blazers
12. Chicago Bulls
13. Atlanta Hawks
14. San Antonio Spurs
15. Oklahoma City Thunder
16. Memphis Grizzlies
17. Minnesota Timberwolves
18. Washington Wizards
19. Brooklyn Nets
20. Miami Heat
21. Utah Jazz
22. Brooklyn Nets
23. New Orleans Pelicans
24. Oklahoma City Thunder
25. Orlando Magic
26. Brooklyn Nets
27. Brooklyn Nets
28. Boston Celtics
29. Phoenix Suns
30. Los Angeles Clippers
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