Mavericks NBA Draft grades 2025: Here's what analysts think of Cooper Flagg pick

The Dallas Mavericks surprised absolutely no one last night when they selected Duke forward Cooper Flagg with the first pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

This was the expectation from the moment Dallas was announced as having won the first overall pick in the Draft Lottery. Flagg is the consensus best player in his draft class. Here is what the experts think of the pick:

Cooper Flagg NBA draft grades

Gilbert McGregor, The Sporting News: A+

McGregor: "It is finally official: Flagg is a Maverick. One of the most surefire No. 1 picks in recent years, Flagg is set to enter an ideal situation in Dallas in that he won’t face immediate pressure to be the franchise’s savior. The Mavericks have lofty expectations as a team this year, but Flagg can ease into his role as he’ll play alongside a pair of former No. 1 overall picks in Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving this season. The Mavericks’ “defense wins championships” mentality applies well to Flagg, who should immediately contribute on that end of the floor. He’s just scratching the surface of his potential offensively, which says a lot considering he averaged 19.2 points and 4.2 assists last season."

Kurt Helin, NBC Sports: A+

Helin: "Making this pick was a no-brainer, but when you get the best player in the draft, a guy who can help you win now — or, at least when Kyrie Irving gets healthy — and can be the bridge to the future, then you get an A+. It doesn’t matter that it was an open-book test, the Mavericks aced it. Flagg is an elite defender, plays with a high motor, can shoot the three or drive the rim, has handles and… what else do you want? Great player, great fit."

Jeff Zillgitt and Lorenzo Reyes, USA TODAY: A

Zillgitt and Reyes: "The Mavericks needed luck to get the No. 1 pick – just a 1.8% chance to win the lottery and that’s what happened, allowing them to select Cooper Flagg, who brings talent, maturity and an NBA-ready game to a team looking to compete for a title."

J. Kyle Mann, The Ringer: A+

Mann: "Flagg has finally been captured. Nearly five months after their baffling decision to trade Luka Doncic, the most talented creator to enter the league in my lifetime, the Mavs now welcome Flagg, who might be the most well-rounded prospect of at least the past couple of decades. He can hit open shots, he’s ferocious in the midrange, he loves to be a connective passer, he has utter disdain for the rim and attacks it as such, and he relishes playing defense. It’s ridiculous. Throughout his young career, Flagg has sought out the biggest possible challenges and figured them out, so whatever messiness exists in the post-Luka haze or in trying to meld a no. 1 pick with a win-now roster shouldn’t keep him from thriving."

Adam Finkelstein and Kyle Boone, CBS Sports: A

Finkelstein and Boone: "Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Dallas had less than a 2% chance of getting this pick and in Flagg the Mavs are getting not just an elite two-way prospect but an elite two-way player. He's ready to impact the team and help them win right now and be the bridge to the franchise's future. He can dominate defensively on and off the ball. Great shot blocker. High steal rate. Terrific passer. In his lone college season, he took major strides as a shooter and a creator. He's the future face of the franchise. A home run for Dallas."

Kevin O'Connor, Yahoo Sports: A+

O'Connor: "Hard to believe this is actually happening just five months after the Mavericks shockingly traded Luka Dončić. Yet here we are. Flagg is officially a Mav, and he has a chance to be great enough to win back the fans. He can help Dallas in both the short term and long term as a do-it-all forward who hustles like a madman, makes his teammates better as a passer and has dialed in a knockdown jumper. He’s both the best offensive and defensive prospect in this draft class, making him the safest No. 1 pick in ages. As long as his jumper continues to fall like it did during his freshman year at Duke, he could play as a small forward next to Anthony Davis and another big. And with his size and versatility, he could play power forward in other lineups, too. There’s no doubt he’s going to produce. It’s his growth as a shot creator that will decide if he reaches his All-Star floor or soars to his Hall of Fame ceiling."