Dallas’ mood has been somber since their star was unceremoniously shipped out to LA back in February. And while the arrival of UConn sensation Paige Bueckers provided the city excitement, it has been tough for the fans to get over the trade of Luka Doncic. So when this year’s draft lottery rolled around, Dallas faithful didn’t care, believing it was not the answer to their misfortunes.

However, the 2025 NBA Draft lottery in the Windy city has brought hope for the Dallas basketball fans as they’ve managed to secure the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft. They’re now the only city in history to draft first overall in the WNBA and NBA in the same year and will buy some much needed injection of star power to their squad. Mavericks only had a 1.8% chance of winning the first pick in the NBA draft, making them the 4th largest underdog to win it. The pick will likely bring into town the undisputed No. 1 pick from Duke, the generational talent that is Cooper Flagg. A player who has the potential to make Dallas forget all about the Slovenian magician.

The minority owner of the Mavs, Mark Cuban, was present at the draft to update Patrick Dumont, who could not be there as he was busy with his daughter’s track meet. Despite his absence, Dumont was receiving updates from Cuban and was told they had reached the top 4. But when he answered the next call, he couldn’t comprehend much of what Cuban was saying, as he was screaming out of joy. The message was clear and Dumont understood one thing, the Mavs had secured the first pick.

Dallas were far from the favorites amongst the 13 teams fighting for the No. 1 pick. Utah, Washington and Charlotte had the best odds at 14% each and had hoped Flagg would turn the tide for their franchises. However, Jazz’s luck in the draft seemed to continue as they fell out of the top 4, getting jumped by San Antonio and Philadelphia. The Spurs will now be picking second, followed by the Sixers, Hornets, Jazz and Wizards. In that order.  “I am so happy for Mavericks fans,” Dallas CEO Rick Welts said, clutching the envelope with the No. 1 printed across it. “I only got to Dallas January 1st this year. February 1st, we broke the internet. I am just amazed at the depth of emotion and connection that the fan base has with this team. And what happened today, I can’t imagine a better day for Mavs fans. It’s going to really be something special. I can’t wait to get back to Dallas.”

While the excitement around No.1 picks is not uncommon, Cooper Flagg arrives at a point where the franchise is in desperate need of a star. The 2025 Wooden Award winner fits the bill. Although many were introduced to him when he took on the U.S. Olympics squad in a practice match, Flagg has been doing this for a long time. The leader of a powerhouse program headed by John Scheyer, Flagg has displayed his readiness for the league every step of the way and is expected to contribute instantly.

Securing the Flagg

As a Freshman at Duke, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists while leading the Blue Devils to the Final Four. While they fell to Houston in a tightly contested game, Cooper’s displays throughout the NCAA Tournament showed he’s built for the big stage. A supremely versatile prospect, Cooper can do whatever you need him to. He shot 48% from the field, 39% from 3-point range, 84% from the foul line and won multiple accolades for his performances. These included the Associated Press’ national player of the year and the John R. Wooden Trophy. Although he’s an adept scorer, he consistently gets his teammates better looks and was key to Blue Devils’ 35-4 record.

While the Dallas Mavericks didn’t expect to land Cooper in their wildest dreams, he is here and he might be the saving grace for the franchise. After the departure of Luka, the team continued its descent with fans asking for refunds and stars such as Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving picking up injuries. They eventually got knocked out of the Play-In and the scrutiny around the team reached an all-time high.

The pick not just brings a supremely talented prospect to Dallas, but also brings hope for the fans who have appeared distraught the past few months. Adding Cooper to an already potent team that simply succumbed to injuries this year would provide Dallas a competitive squad not just for the present but for the future. And while it might not have worked as Nico Harrison intended, Max Christie is another promising guard who could battle alongside Flagg. One of the most anticipated No.1 picks in recent history, national analyst Matt Babcock calls him a “big time star”. The Mavericks faithful would simply hope he doesn’t get treated like the last one.