The gods are smiling on Dallas at the moment. After landing the top pick in the WNBA draft, the Dallas Mavericks now won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery. Meaning? The City will have two top players from the men’s and women’s basketball teams of the class of 2025. And at the Men’s basketball end – projected top pick Cooper Flagg already has a mentor in Klay Thompson.

Cooper Flagg, widely projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, could be headed to Dallas. And ahead of the potential selection, Mavericks veteran Klay Thompson had a message for the incoming rookie — cryptic, yet deeply intentional.

Taking to his Instagram stories, the 35-year-old sharpshooter posted, “When you feel like you’re stuck in the mud, ask yourself — what would Mamba do?” A lifelong Kobe Bryant devotee, Klay Thompson has often drawn strength from the late Lakers legend. The image he shared — featuring Kobe alongside Michael Jordan — spoke volumes. These were two of the greatest closers in NBA history, united by an unmatched killer instinct that defined their eras.

Thompson’s connection to Kobe’s mindset runs deep. After tearing his ACL during the 2019 playoffs, he endured one of the most grueling stretches of his career. Through the long recovery, it was the Mamba Mentality that kept him grounded. And just as he returned to the court, another battle emerged — not physical this time, but mental. That second hurdle, the psychological toll, proved to be just as challenging. Yet again, it was Kobe’s philosophy that became his compass.

“I didn’t play a lot this summer,” he said. “It was hard, especially what I went through the last summer I was healthy, popping my achilles, it was really hard for me to get out there. It’s hard to explain, it’s like a mental block in a way. I’m going to face it one day, but this season was so taxing coming back, it was hard.” Klay received Warriors fans’ support, team support, but after all, it was he who needed to deal with the mental blockage. And that’s where the Mamba Mentality came to help him.

Thompson has publicly stated that he read Bryant’s book, “Mamba Mentality: How I Play,” every day during his rehab process and that Bryant’s influence inspired him to be the athlete he is today. Thompson tried to become a student of the game himself. He attended Bryant’s Nike Skills Academy when he was 17, and now, after 14 years in the league, the tables have turned.

“Greatness isn’t just on the court, it’s everything you do,” Klay Thompson took Kobe’s influential saying to heart. The star looked upon Laker’s legend and followed in his footsteps, and now he could be the next one guiding Cooper Flagg.

His Instagram story message may be a quiet nod to Flagg, who could soon find himself navigating the high expectations and pressure of joining a contending team alongside the former champion. But the only thing that would be helping him on his long journey will be a strong mentality. Klay knows that and has already applied that on his journey. Now it’s time for him to pass on the baton.

Cooper Flagg can benefit from Klay Thompson and the  experienced Mavs Team

Now let’s talk about the Mavs’ future – Cooper Flagg. The Duke superstar is coming off one of the best freshman seasons in college history. With above 48% accuracy from the field, he nearly led his side in every department, averaging  19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. And his resume is stacked with multiple accolades, showcasing his dominance in the class of 2025.

Just to give fans a small glimpse of his potential, Flagg won the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, Associated Press, John Wooden and Naismith national player of the year awards. The only other freshmen to win those awards were Kevin Durant (2007), Anthony Davis (2012) and Zion Williamson (2019), players who need no introduction as their performances on the court speak volumes. Now, as for the Mavs to have such talent in hand, especially after the Luka trade, is a lifeline itself. But there is a lot that the Mavs can offer Flagg.

As mentioned earlier, Klay Thompson brings the mentality and experience needed to help guide Duke prodigy Cooper Flagg, but he won’t be the only veteran shaping the rookie’s development. Surrounded by elite talent, Flagg will have the perfect environment to round out his game.

His perimeter shooting, ball-handling, and playmaking could see a major boost under the tutelage of Klay and Kyrie Irving — a fellow Duke alum. And when it comes to mastering the post-up game on both ends of the floor, there’s arguably no better mentor than Anthony Davis, who remains one of the league’s most dominant two-way bigs.

Flagg, who doesn’t turn 19 until December, adds some youth to a team with Davis at 32 years old; point guard Kyrie Irving is at 33, shooting guard Klay Thompson is 35 and, more importantly, he can play at multiple positions. It will be interesting to watch Cooper develop and impact games with the Dallas Mavericks. The draft date is not far away.