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Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
'Dream come true': Flagg picked first in NBA draft
Cooper Flagg anticipated the moment for many months. Still, when the Duke product heard his name called today at No. 1 overall in the NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks, he experienced a flurry of emotions. "I'm feeling amazing," Flagg said as he stood with his family. "It's a dream come true, to be honest. I wouldn't want to share it with anybody else." The Mavericks' announcement ended a months-long buildup for the 18-year-old Maine native, who had long been projected as the top pick. The only question was which team would get a chance to take him, and Dallas earned that opportunity when it won the NBA Draft lottery last month despite 1.8% odds. Flagg figures to quickly provide a new face of the franchise for the Mavericks, who drew ire from their fan base after trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last season. The 6-foot-8, 221-pound Flagg helped guide Duke to an NCAA Final Four appearance after averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks as a freshman. He won the Wooden Award as the nation's best player along with taking home other honors including Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year and an ACC All-Defensive Team nod. The San Antonio Spurs followed with the No. 2 pick, which they used to select Rutgers guard Dylan Harper. The son of longtime NBA player Ron Harper will join a talented roster that includes prized big man Victor Wembanyama and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. Harper said he could not wait to get to San Antonio to prepare for the season. "I'm feeling everything -- all the emotions mixed in one bucket," Harper said. "I think when you play with a bunch of great players, it brings the best out of you. They've got a great young core over there. I'm just ready to get in there and make an impact any way I can with those guys." At No. 3, the Philadelphia 76ers selected guard VJ Edgecombe out of Baylor. He was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year after averaging 15 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Bears. The Charlotte Hornets selected Duke guard Kon Knueppel next, which marked the second Blue Devils freshman to be selected in the top four picks. Now, Knueppel will stay in North Carolina to play in the NBA. "It was a big spotlight at Duke," he said. "(We) freshmen didn't shy away from that, and it prepared us for the next level. Hopefully, that will carry over." The Utah Jazz selected Ace Bailey out of Rutgers to round out the top five picks. The next three selections were Texas' Tre Johnson to the Washington Wizards at No. 6, Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears to the New Orleans Pelicans at No. 7 and BYU's Egor Demin to the Brooklyn Nets at No. 8. The ninth pick belonged to the Toronto Raptors, who selected forward Collin Murray-Boyles out of South Carolina. Duke big man Khaman Maluach heard his name called at No. 10 overall. The pick belonged to the Houston Rockets, who then sent the draft rights to Maluach to the Phoenix Suns as part of a deal to be finalized for Kevin Durant. Maluach was born in South Sudan and did not discover basketball until he was an adolescent. "I'm here representing the whole continent," Maluach said. "Leaving Africa, I had the whole continent on my back. (I want to be) giving hope to young kids, inspiring young kids and the next generation of African basketball." The Memphis Grizzlies reportedly traded up to grab Washington State swing player Cedric Coward at No. 11. Chicago followed by taking forward Noa Essengue of France at No. 12, and then Atlanta Hawks nabbed Maryland big man Derik Queen at No. 13, then reportedly traded him to the Pelicans. The final pick of the lottery was Arizona forward Carter Bryant, who went to the Spurs at No. 14. The next four picks were Georgetown center Thomas Sorber to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 15, Chinese center Yang Hansen to Portland at No. 16, French center Joan Beringer to the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 17 and Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. to the Jazz at No. 18. Brooklyn ended up with more first-round selections: Nolan Traore of France at No. 19, Drake Powell of North Carolina at No. 22 (via the Hawks), Ben Saraf of Israel at No. 26 and Danny Wolf of Michigan at No. 27. Illinois had back-to-back players selected as the Miami Heat took Kasparas Jakucionis at No. 20 and the Utah Jazz took Will Riley at No. 21. Riley reportedly will be dealt to the Wizards. The final batch of first-round picks included Asa Newell of Georgia at No. 23 overall to Atlanta, Nique Clifford of Colorado State at No. 24 overall (drafted by the Thunder and reportedly traded to the Sacramento Kings) and Jase Richardson of Michigan State at No. 25 overall to the Orlando Magic. After Saraf and Wolf went to Brooklyn, the Boston Celtics took Hugo Gonzalez of Spain with the 28th pick. Phoenix selected UConn sharpshooter Liam McNeeley at No. 29 and reportedly dealt him to Charlotte, and the Los Angeles Clippers closed out the first round by taking Penn State big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser. The Mavericks had the No. 1 overall pick for the second time in franchise history. They also had the top selection in 1981, when they drafted Mark Aguirre out of DePaul.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
NBA draft: Cooper Flagg goes to Dallas Mavericks as No 1 overall pick
The Dallas Mavericks did what everyone knew they would on Wednesday when they selected Cooper Flagg as the No 1 overall pick in the NBA draft. 'I'm feeling amazing. It's a dream come true, to be honest,' Flagg said after he was selected, surrounded by his family. 'I wouldn't want to share it with anybody else.' The forward was brilliant in his single year of college basketball at Duke, which had come after he was a highly touted player in high school. When Dallas overcame long odds in this year's draft lottery to win the No 1 overall pick, there was no doubt they would go on to pick the 18-year-old from Maine. It is a move that may go some way to soothing the Mavs fanbase, who erupted in anger when the team traded superstar Luke Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in February. The 6ft 8in Flagg helped guide Duke to an NCAA Final Four appearance after averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks as a freshman. He won the Wooden Award as the nation's best college player along with taking home other honors including ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC All-Defensive Team. The Mavericks had the No 1 overall pick for the second time in franchise history. They also had the top selection in 1981, when they drafted Mark Aguirre out of DePaul. The San Antonio Spurs picked Rutgers point guard Dylan Harper with the second overall pick. Harper, son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, will play alongside French phenom Victor Wembanyama on a Spurs team that are starting to look like they could become a force in the Western Conference again after a few downs years. The 76ers then took Baylor's VJ Edgecombe, getting the first sustained burst of loud cheers of the draft from what seemed to be a number of Philadelphia fans who made the trip to Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The first two picks had long been expected, but the No 3 spot was the first one where there was intrigue. Kon Knueppel made it two Duke players in the first four picks when the Charlotte Hornets took him at No 4. Ace Bailey, who could have been in the mix to go third but declined to work out for the 76ers, ended up going at No 5 to Utah. First-round NBA draft picks for 2025 1) Dallas Mavericks – Cooper Flagg, forward, Duke Scouting report: Only the fourth freshman named Associated Press men's national player of the year. Led Final Four team in scoring (19.2), rebounding (7.5), assists (4.2), steals (1.4) and blocks (1.4). Shot 38.5% on 3-pointers and 84% on free throws. Ranked in 85th percentile or better in converting as the ballhandler in pick-and-rolls, post-ups and transition, according to Synergy's analytics rankings. Set Atlantic Coast Conference freshman record with 42 points against Notre Dame. Turns 19 in December. 2) San Antonio Spurs – Dylan Harper, guard, Rutgers Scouting report: Freshman lefty who thrived as scorer (19.4) and lead ballhandler with two-way potential. Notably scored 36 points against Notre Dame, then 37 a day later against then-No 9 Alabama in November. Averaged 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals. Son of former NBA guard Ron Harper. Couldn't lift Rutgers to a winning record despite playing with fellow top prospect Ace Bailey. Turned 19 in March. 3) Philadelphia 76ers – VJ Edgecombe, guard, Baylor Scouting report: Explosive athleticism stands out at both ends. Above-the-rim finisher who creates highlight-reel moments. Freshman ranked among combine leaders in max vertical leap (38.5). Must improve outside shooting consistency (34%), but had seven games with at least three made 3s. Had 11 games with three-plus steals. 4) Charlotte Hornets – Kon Knueppel, forward, Duke Scouting report: Efficient wing scorer. Made 40.6% on 3-pointers. Ranked in Synergy's 98th percentile on spot-up shooting (52.9%). Ranked sixth nationally at the foul line (91.4%). Had 10 games with at least four assists, indicating potential as secondary playmaker. ACC Tournament MVP. Lacks elite athleticism. 5) Utah Jazz – Ace Bailey, forward, Rutgers Scouting report: Versatile, athletic shotmaker with midrange and stepback skills. Streaky shooter had five January games with at least four threes for defense-stretching potential, yet also notable skids at the foul line and behind the arc. Last season's second-ranked recruit couldn't lift Rutgers to a winning record despite playing with fellow top prospect Dylan Harper. Turns 19 in August. 6) Washington Wizards – Tre Johnson, guard, Texas Scouting report: Southeastern Conference's scoring leader (19.9) who also led all Division I freshmen. Broke Kevin Durant's freshman Longhorns record with 39 points against Arkansas. Shot 39.7% on three-pointers with 12 games of at least four threes. Shot 87.1% on free throws. Needs strength on a slender frame. Turned 19 in March. 7) New Orleans Pelicans – Jeremiah Fears, guard, Oklahoma Scouting report: Freshman combo guard adept at creating space. Averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists. Attempted 6.3 free throws per game. Shot 28.4% on threes and averaged 3.4 turnovers. Must add strength. Turns 19 in October. 8) Brooklyn Nets – Egor Demin, guard/forward, BYU Scouting report: Russian playmaker with size. Averaged 5.5 assists, second among Division I freshmen. Had 15 assists against two turnovers in 54 minutes in the last two games for a Sweet 16 team. Must improve shooting (27.3% on threes, 69.5% on free throws). 9) Toronto Raptors – Collin Murray-Boyles, forward, South Carolina Scouting report: Sophomore with 7ft 1in wingspan and two-way potential. Averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks. Thrived in halfcourt by shooting 57.9% to rank in Synergy's 88th percentile. Shooting is a concern after hitting 23.1% (9 of 39) of three-pointers and 69.5% of free throws in two seasons. 10) Houston Rockets (traded to Phoenix Suns) – Khaman Maluach, center, Duke Scouting report: Has length and size of elite rim protector and lob threat. Runs floor well and thrived in pick-and-roll chances, ranking in Synergy's 99th percentile. Still-developing offensive skillset with 71.2% shooting largely coming on dunks and putbacks. Had the combine's biggest wingspan at 7ft 7.75in. Guardian
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe are first picks of 2025 NBA Draft
Cooper Flagg anticipated the moment for many months. Still, when Flagg heard his name called No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night in the NBA Draft, he felt a flurry of emotions. "I'm feeling amazing," Flagg said as he stood with his family. "It's a dream come true, to be honest. I wouldn't want to share it with anybody else." The Mavericks' announcement ended a months-long buildup for the 18-year-old Flagg, who had long been projected as the top pick. The only question was which team would get the chance to select him, and Dallas earned that opportunity when it won the NBA Draft lottery last month, despite having just 1.8 percent odds of moving into the top spot. Flagg figures to quickly provide a new face of the franchise for the Mavericks, who drew ire from their fan base for trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February. The 6-foot-9, 205-pound Flagg helped guide Duke to an NCAA Final Four appearance while averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks as a freshman. He won the Wooden Award as the nation's best player while taking home ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC All-Defensive Team honors. The San Antonio Spurs followed with the No. 2 pick, which they used to select Rutgers freshman guard Dylan Harper. The son of longtime NBA player Ron Harper will join a talented roster that includes prized big man Victor Wembanyama. Harper said he could not wait to get to San Antonio to prepare for the season. "I'm feeling everything -- all the emotions mixed in one bucket," Harper said. "I think when you play with a bunch of great players, it brings the best out of you. They've got a great young core over there. I'm just ready to get in there and make an impact any way I can with those guys." At No. 3, the Philadelphia 76ers selected guard VJ Edgecombe out of Baylor. He was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year after averaging 15 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Bears. The Charlotte Hornets selected Duke guard Kon Knueppel next, which gave the Blue Devils two freshmen in the top four picks. Now, Knueppel will stay in North Carolina to play in the NBA. "It was a big spotlight at Duke," he said. "(We) freshmen didn't shy away from that, and it prepared us for the next level. Hopefully, that will carry over." The Utah Jazz selected Ace Bailey out of Rutgers to round out the top five picks. Harper and Bailey marked the highest draft picks in Rutgers annals. The next three selections featured three more freshman guards: Texas' Tre Johnson to the Washington Wizards at No. 6, Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears to the New Orleans Pelicans at No. 7 and BYU's Egor Demin to the Brooklyn Nets at No. 8. The Mavericks had the No. 1 overall pick for the second time in franchise history. When they owned the top selection in 1981, they drafted DePaul's Mark Aguirre over Indiana's Isiah Thomas. --Field Level Media/Reuters
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Cooper Flagg selected 1st overall by Mavericks in 2025 NBA Draft
Cooper Flagg poses with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as first overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Brad Penner-Imagn Images The Dallas Mavericks selected Duke phenom Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night. The announcement ended a months-long buildup for the 18-year-old Flagg, who had long been projected as the top selection. The only question was which team would get a chance to take him, and the Mavericks earned that opportunity when they won the NBA Draft lottery last month despite having just 1.8 percent odds of moving into the top spot. Flagg figures to quickly provide a new face of the franchise for the Mavericks, who drew ire from their fan base after trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last season. The 6-foot-9, 205-pound Flagg helped guide Duke to an NCAA Final Four appearance after averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks as a freshman. He won the Wooden Award as the nation's best player while taking home ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC All-Defensive Team honors. The Mavericks had the No. 1 overall pick for the second time in franchise history. They also had the top selection in 1981, when they drafted Mark Aguirre out of DePaul. --Field Level Media/ Reuters
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Duke Sends Parting Message to Cooper Flagg After NBA Draft Decision
In a decision that just about everyone in college basketball and the NBA were expecting at some point, Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg declared for the draft on Monday. The decision comes after a tremendous season in Durham, even though he should've been a senior in high school. On the year, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks, all of which led the team. While he flirted with the idea of making a return to college, and there were rumors that he wanted to avoid certain franchises, inevitably, it was time for him to spread his wings. Advertisement The program made sure to send a heartwarming message to him on social media, expressing its gratitude for his time with the brotherhood. "League next. Duke forever. Thank you @Cooper_Flagg‼️💙💙😈," wrote the program. In his one season with Duke, Flagg led the team to its best record (35-4) since the 2014-15 season. He was also named ACC Player of the Year, ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC All-Defensive Team, a consensus first-team All-American, and the player of the year by multiple outlets. While the fans were hoping that the next great prodigy would end the program's title drought, Flagg and the Blue Devils ended up falling in the Final Four against Houston, the eventual runner-up. Advertisement In terms of where Flagg will end up for the start of his NBA career, there are three teams that share the best odds of securing the No. 1 pick. Duke Blue Devils guard Cooper Flagg (2).Dale Zanine-Imagn Images According to CBS Sports' Sam Quinn, the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets all share a 14% chance of securing the top pick. The NBA draft lottery is scheduled for May 12, which in all likelihood means that will be when Flagg finds out where he is going. That is, unless he truly decides to pull an Eli Manning of sorts, and force his way to a different team. Although his college career didn't end with him winning the title, he still had a spectacular career that won't be forgotten anytime soon. Related: Cooper Flagg Facing Backlash From Duke Fans After NBA Draft Decision
