The drama was non-existent in Wednesday’s first round of the 2025 NBA Draft. Cooper Flagg was presumed to be the pick all along for the Dallas Mavericks at No. 1 overall, making the official announcement from NBA commissioner Adam Silver all but a formality.

After a blockbuster trade shook the franchise earlier this year, Dallas welcomes the Duke prodigy to a roster led by Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson

The Cooper Flagg era has officially begun as the Mavericks made him the No. 1 overall pick in Wednesday night’s NBA draft. Flagg, wearing a blue three-piece suit with a black tie, walked across the Barclays Center stage to shake the hand of commissioner Adam Silver, fulfilling a longstanding dream of reaching the NBA.