Earlier this year, The Nike Air Diamond Turf Proto ‘92 was released in the ‘white/black’ colorway. This was a bold, new strategy, introducing a ‘prototype’ never before sold to the public 33 years after it was made but never produced. This Includes a Deion Sanders Jr’s Well Off Media PE, making the third DT Proto ‘92 the public has seen in 2025. Yet, none capture the essence of the 1990s sneaker renaissance like the DT Proto ‘92 “Black”.
Nike has experienced several “eras” in their run to dominance. No stretch of their success has ever reached the levels between the years of 1988 and 2002. During that time, Nike was still finding its footing within the sneaker industry that was still primarily pushing full high tops made with real leather. Models like the Flight Lite and the Air Flight ’89 began a deviation from the ‘norm’. The lower cut and the use of ‘nubuck’ signaled a shift consumers very much responded to.
By 1992, models like the Air Force 180, the Air Maestro, the Huarache flight, and of course, the Jordan 7 created several new options. While Adidas and Converse were still pushing their same basic concepts. The DT Proto ‘92 is almost a pure tribute to that time. The materials, panel work, design features, cut, and especially the colorway all feel like a nod to Nike in the early 90s.
While the DT Proto ‘92 feels like a tribute, it also radiates “Prime Time’ Deion Sanders in almost every way. This was the prototype that came before the original DT1. The shoe as we think of it, has no swoosh on the side and the only “NIKE” spelled out was the NIKE Air on the back heel counter. The Proto brings back the original look, even if Deion never wore that model in any NFL games.
The DT Proto ‘92 is a clear nod to the simplistic beauty of Nike’s tendencies during that time. A predominantly black shoe with a black outsole and midsole. A functional strap, a red sock liner, white logos and Deion’s signature gold. Creating a contrast in what Nike has primarily done lately with conflicting earth tones, clashing bright colors, miss matched pairs and any number of ‘artist collabs’ creating colorways Nike would’ve never considered if they stayed in their wheelhouse. The shoe reflects the early days of Nike dominance and will take many sneakerheads back to the time they discovered their love for these high-end sneakers.
Currently, Nike has only confirmed the DT Proto ‘92 “Black” will release in “Fall 2025.” With what this shoe represents for both sneakerheads from the 90s and Deion Sanders as a player, these should sell out in short order. Similar to Sanders’ other shoes released over the past year.
Oklahoma has not had an NBA draft pick since Trae Young was drafted 5th overall in 2018. On Wednesday, that changed as Jeremiah Fears becomes the 8th lottery pick in program history and the first Sooner to be drafted in the Porter Moser era.
Fears was picked 7th overall by the New Orelans Pelicans in the 2025 NBA Draft.
A year ago, Fears was in the 2025 class committed to play for Illinois, but on July 1st, he decommitted from the Fighting Illini and shortly thereafter announced that he would be joining the Sooners as he reclassified up.
The Joliet, Illinois native was the highest rated recruit that the program has brought in since Young, giving Fears high expectations. The 6’3” guard came in and immediately made an impact, ultimately leading Oklahoma to their first NCAA Tournament berth in the Moser era.
The plan was always for Fears to go to the NBA after one season in Norman, but it wasn’t until the Battle 4 Atlantis, where he led Oklahoma to a Battle 4 Atlantis Championship, scoring 24 points against Arizona and 20 points against Providence, that the national media started to catch up to that.
Oklahoma Sooners guard Jeremiah Fears (0) on defense against Michigan Wolverines guard Rubin Jones (15) during the first half
Jim Dedmon
A few weeks later in Charlotte at the Jumpman Invitational against Michigan, where he scored 30 points on 8-12 shooting from the field and 3-4 shooting from behind the arc. Oklahoma won that game 87-86, thanks to a heroic four-point play from Fears.
It was that moment against Michigan where the national crowd realized what those at Oklahoma, those in his hometown of Joliet, Illinois, AZ Compass Prep — where he played his junior season of high school ball — and many others had seen: Fears is a special talent, and that four-point play made everyone take notice.
Half way into SEC play, some members of the national media were claiming that it was time for Fears to cnsider taking another year of school but after that moment, he turned it up a notch. Over the last five conference games and the two SEC Tournament games, Fears averaged 22.7 points, 5.5 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.
He ended the season averaging a team-high 17 points, a team-high 4.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and a team-high 1.6 steals per game while averaging 30 minutes each game. He finished shooting 43.6% from the field, 84.5% from the free throw line, and 27.5% from behind the arc.
He also nabbed four SEC Freshman of the Week awards and a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team for his impressive play.
The true freshman who should have been preparing for his high school prom in April was the one to lead Oklahoma to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2021.
There were many heroic moments throughout Fears’ tenure in Oklahoma, now he will take his talents to the Big Easy.
He joins a roster that features Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy. Fears is expected to step in as the franchise’s point guard.
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With the fourth overall pick on Wednesday, the Charlotte Hornets selected Kon Knueppel from Duke in the 2025 NBA draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Knueppel was a second-team All-ACC selection after averaging 14.4 points, four rebounds, 2.7 assists and one steal in 39 games on 40.6% shooting from 3-point range. He scored in double figures in all but seven games, including a season-high 28 points and eight assists on March 13.
The 6-foot-6 guard was once viewed as a potential lottery pick, but climbed boards throughout the predraft process to become a top-five selection. He was selected three picks after Blue Devils teammate Cooper Flagg went No. 1 overall to the Dallas Mavericks.
Knueppel ranked seventh in the country in free-throw percentage (91.4), eighth in offensive rating (133.7) and ninth in win shares (6.9) last season. He was also tied for the ninth-most appearances after helping the Blue Devils to the Final Four.
The 19-year-old was highly touted in the draft because of his shooting and ability to facilitate offenses. But it is his floor spacing that will be coveted at the next level after the ACC tournament MVP established himself as perhaps the top shooter in the draft.
Knueppel projects to provide the Hornets with another young player they can build around next to the likes of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Mark Williams. After becoming one of the top players at Duke, Knueppel won’t have to go very far to join his next team.
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.
If Cooper Flagg had never reclassified, Harper would be the consensus top pick with star upside because he’s a big-bodied lefty combo guard who has a high floor with the skill, poise and playmaking instincts to dictate the game at his pace. Now that he’ll be sharing shot-creation responsibilities in San Antonio, he’ll be able to use his 6-foot-11 wingspan to greater effect on the defensive end and also utilize his bruising interior finishing as a cutter on offense. But he made only 36.8% of his catch-and-shoot 3s and just 28.7% of his dribble jumpers, so his fit with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle is a question. All of them are more interior-focused guards, and so is Jeremy Sochan in the frontcourt. How many shaky shooters can the Spurs really put around Victor Wembanyama? It appears the Spurs will just take Harper, bank on his massive upside, and figure out team fit later.
Edgecombe makes total sense for the Sixers. He is an explosive, high-motor wing who flies out of nowhere for poster dunks and chase-down blocks. He pairs his elite athleticism with a knockdown, spot-up jumper and fearless slashing. Though he needs to improve his shot creation to become more of a primary creator, the Sixers have enough in that department as is, so Edgecombe should get time to develop on his own timeline. It sure would’ve been nice for Philadelphia to get an opportunity to meet face-to-face with Ace Bailey, but odds are Edgecombe would’ve been the better choice anyway since he can help both in the short-term as a role player and in the long-term due to his high upside.
Knueppel has a sharpshooter’s stroke, brainy pick-and-roll playmaking, and crafty scoring feel. He’s the type of player who can come in right away and fit on any team, including perfectly between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. He’s got a slick midrange bag and strength scoring inside, but to become a player that takes over games he’ll need to overcome his average athleticism. This would matter a bit less playing in Charlotte, since he could be one of multiple ball-handlers on the team.
Well, Bailey didn’t get what he wanted by landing with the Jazz. There’s a reason why he fell to No. 5. This is a huge upside swing for the Jazz, but Bailey is a ridiculous shot-making machine, capable of splashing contested jumpers from every spot on the floor and with the swagger of a throwback bucket-getter. He had 39 points against Indiana, 37 against Northwestern, and 30 against Penn State, showing an ability to have masterful performances in which he can’t be stopped. But his raw edges as a shot creator and defender need sanding down to turn him into a full-on star. Over half of his half court shots came in the midrange, and yet he made only 36.4% of his pull-up 2s. He can catch fire, but he needs to prove he can be consistent on top of doing all the other things it takes to win. Maybe with Utah, he will learn.
Johnson is a clutch shot-maker who can catch fire from all over the floor, drilling step-backs and off-screen jumpers with ease. The Wizards are getting the best overall shooter in the class. He made 40.8% of catch-and-shoot 3s, over 50% of 3s off screens and 38.4% of dribble jumper 3s. But he needs to continue developing his point guard skills while also honing his shot selection since only 17% of his shots came at the rim in the half court. Plus, he must dramatically improve his defense to show he’s more than just a one-way player.
Fears is a dynamic guard with a twitchy attacking style and a knack for coming through as a clutch shooter. He’s the best ball handler in this draft class, giving him a runway to become New Orleans’ long-term primary shot-creator. But he was one of college basketball’s youngest freshmen, and it showed with his shaky decision-making as a shooter and passer. So he needs time to grow. All that said, he’s a lottery pick because he has a feel for shot creation and a handle that lets him get anywhere on the floor, so he may only need time to emerge as a star.
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.
If Cooper Flagg had never reclassified, Harper would be the consensus top pick with star upside because he’s a big-bodied lefty combo guard who has a high floor with the skill, poise and playmaking instincts to dictate the game at his pace. Now that he’ll be sharing shot-creation responsibilities in San Antonio, he’ll be able to use his 6-foot-11 wingspan to greater effect on the defensive end and also utilize his bruising interior finishing as a cutter on offense. But he made only 36.8% of his catch-and-shoot 3s and just 28.7% of his dribble jumpers, so his fit with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle is a question. All of them are more interior-focused guards, and so is Jeremy Sochan in the frontcourt. How many shaky shooters can the Spurs really put around Victor Wembanyama? It appears the Spurs will just take Harper, bank on his massive upside, and figure out team fit later.
Edgecombe makes total sense for the Sixers. He is an explosive, high-motor wing who flies out of nowhere for poster dunks and chase-down blocks. He pairs his elite athleticism with a knockdown, spot-up jumper and fearless slashing. Though he needs to improve his shot creation to become more of a primary creator, the Sixers have enough in that department as is, so Edgecombe should get time to develop on his own timeline. It sure would’ve been nice for Philadelphia to get an opportunity to meet face-to-face with Ace Bailey, but odds are Edgecombe would’ve been the better choice anyway since he can help both in the short-term as a role player and in the long-term due to his high upside.
Knueppel has a sharpshooter’s stroke, brainy pick-and-roll playmaking, and crafty scoring feel. He’s the type of player who can come in right away and fit on any team, including perfectly between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. He’s got a slick midrange bag and strength scoring inside, but to become a player that takes over games he’ll need to overcome his average athleticism. This would matter a bit less playing in Charlotte, since he could be one of multiple ball-handlers on the team.
Well, Bailey didn’t get what he wanted by landing with the Jazz. There’s a reason why he fell to No. 5. This is a huge upside swing for the Jazz, but Bailey is a ridiculous shot-making machine, capable of splashing contested jumpers from every spot on the floor and with the swagger of a throwback bucket-getter. He had 39 points against Indiana, 37 against Northwestern, and 30 against Penn State, showing an ability to have masterful performances in which he can’t be stopped. But his raw edges as a shot creator and defender need sanding down to turn him into a full-on star. Over half of his half court shots came in the midrange, and yet he made only 36.4% of his pull-up 2s. He can catch fire, but he needs to prove he can be consistent on top of doing all the other things it takes to win. Maybe with Utah, he will learn.
Johnson is a clutch shot-maker who can catch fire from all over the floor, drilling step-backs and off-screen jumpers with ease. The Wizards are getting the best overall shooter in the class. He made 40.8% of catch-and-shoot 3s, over 50% of 3s off screens and 38.4% of dribble jumper 3s. But he needs to continue developing his point guard skills while also honing his shot selection since only 17% of his shots came at the rim in the half court. Plus, he must dramatically improve his defense to show he’s more than just a one-way player.
Fears is a dynamic guard with a twitchy attacking style and a knack for coming through as a clutch shooter. He’s the best ball handler in this draft class, giving him a runway to become New Orleans’ long-term primary shot-creator. But he was one of college basketball’s youngest freshmen, and it showed with his shaky decision-making as a shooter and passer. So he needs time to grow. All that said, he’s a lottery pick because he has a feel for shot creation and a handle that lets him get anywhere on the floor, so he may only need time to emerge as a star.
Standing at 6-foot-6, Harper averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and four assists in his lone season with the Scarlet Knights. Harper led the team in points and assists while shooting 33.3% from 3-point range. On defense, Harper led the team in steals. Teammate Ace Bailey, selected No. 5 by the Utah Jazz, was second on the team in average points per game with 17.6, and led the team in rebounds.
Harper helped Rutgers to a 15-17 record last season before falling to USC in an overtime loss in the Big Ten tournament. His highest-scoring game came in a 34-point outing in an overtime win over Washington in February. Harper also clocked in a triple-double with 16 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in a victory over Columbia late last year.
Coming into college, Harper was crowned MVP at the McDonald’s All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic in 2024. He was also one of five five-star recruits to ever play for Rutgers.
Harper will join a Spurs team coming off a 34-48 season, and is moving forward without Gregg Popovich as head coach for the first time in 29 years. With Mitch Johnson at the helm, Harper will join forces with Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Jeremy Sochan to form part of a young and promising core in San Antonio.
Standing at 6-foot-6, Harper averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and four assists in his lone season with the Scarlet Knights. Harper led the team in points and assists while shooting 33.3% from 3-point range. On defense, Harper led the team in steals. Teammate Ace Bailey, selected No. 5 by the Utah Jazz, was second on the team in average points per game with 17.6, and led the team in rebounds.
Harper helped Rutgers to a 15-17 record last season before falling to USC in an overtime loss in the Big Ten tournament. His highest-scoring game came in a 34-point outing in an overtime win over Washington in February. Harper also clocked in a triple-double with 16 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in a victory over Columbia late last year.
Coming into college, Harper was crowned MVP at the McDonald’s All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic in 2024. He was also one of five five-star recruits to ever play for Rutgers.
Harper will join a Spurs team coming off a 34-48 season, and is moving forward without Gregg Popovich as head coach for the first time in 29 years. With Mitch Johnson at the helm, Harper will join forces with Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Jeremy Sochan to form part of a young and promising core in San Antonio.
Three summers ago, Cooper Flagg took on his biggest challenge yet. The 15-year-old from small-town Maine traveled to USA Basketball headquarters in Colorado Springs to compete against older, more heralded prospects for a spot on the U17 national team.
Whereas many other players at the tryout hunted their own shots in an effort to stand out from their peers, Flagg refused to succumb to the temptation to hoist contested jumpers or step-back 3s. He showcased his talents in other ways, as a willing passer, instinctive cutter, versatile defender, dogged rebounder and supportive teammate.
Forty-six prospects were invited to USA Basketball’s junior national team minicamp that year. Thirty-four earned the opportunity to try out for the team that would vie for gold at the FIBA U17 World Cup. Flagg not only made the 12-man roster, he also posted an absurd 10 points, 17 rebounds, 8 steals, 4 blocks and 2 assists in a gold-medal game victory over talented Spain.
“It was incredible to be there firsthand and see him win over NBA scouts and USA Basketball people session by session,” Andy Bedard, Flagg’s AAU coach since he was 10 years old, told Yahoo Sports. “There were six or seven sessions before they made the cut. I thought he was the best player on the floor in five or six of those sessions. He was the most mature one out there and he was the only one without a driver’s license.”
(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
Stories like that exemplify why those in Flagg’s circle are convinced he’s ready for the unusual burden that comes with the Dallas Mavericks selecting him No. 1 overall in Wednesday’s NBA Draft. Instead of joining a bottom-tier franchise that can afford to develop young players slowly, Flagg goes to a veteran team built to win right away, one that’s counting on him as a savior after trading away Luka Dončić last February in a stunning blockbuster.
At 16, he turned down offers to play for powerhouse AAU programs and guided a group of his childhood friends from Maine to the Nike Peach Jam title game. At 17, he earned the respect of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and the rest of the U.S. Olympic team with an impressive showing during a scrimmage in Las Vegas. At 18, he exceeded impossibly high expectations for his lone college season, leading Duke to the Final Four and capturing all but one of the major national player of the year awards.
“Cooper is just wired different,” his longtime trainer, Matt Mackenzie, told Yahoo Sports. “He thrives in situations where he has pressure, where there are expectations placed upon him, where he has to prove that he is who people think he is. For him to be drafted No. 1, I can’t think of anyone more deserving, but I also can’t think of anyone more fit to handle it.”
It’s no surprise to anyone who watches basketball that Flagg was the first player selected on Wednesday night. That has been the inevitable outcome since long before he donned a Duke jersey and led the Blue Devils in every major statistical category.
As recently as a few months ago, few would have guessed Flagg would have been wearing a Dallas Mavericks cap as he strutted across the Barclays Center stage. Dončić led the Mavs to the 2024 NBA Finals. They were expected to contend again this past season before the Slovenian sensation missed time with lingering injuries and fell out of favor with general manager Nico Harrison.
Flagg and his Duke teammates were hanging after a home win over rival North Carolina in early February when freshman guard Darren Harris checked social media and recoiled in disbelief. The Mavericks had just traded Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, Harris informed the rest of the Blue Devils.
“We just all started going crazy,” Flagg told reporters on Tuesday. “It was such a shock to hear that.”
Little did Flagg know at the time that the stunning trade would help determine his NBA future. The Mavericks slipped from eighth place in the Western Conference when they traded Dončić to 10th when the regular season ended. A loss in the play-in tournament cemented their place in the draft lottery. Then they overcame long odds to secure the No. 1 pick.
The decision to ship out an immensely popular perennial All-NBA candidate instantly turned Harrison into a target for backlash and vitriol. “Fire Nico!” chants from frustrated fans were a staple of Mavericks games the rest of the season. In Dončić’s first game back in Dallas, he scored 45 points and received thunderous ovations from the American Airlines Center crowd.
When asked Tuesday about the possibility of going to Dallas and having to try to match the standard Dončić set, Flagg insisted he doesn’t see it that way.
“Some people would say it’s pressure following Luka,” Flagg said. “I wouldn’t look at anything as pressure. I think whatever situation I go into, I’m just going to try and be myself all the time and push myself to be better and better every day.”
That approach certainly has worked for Flagg so far.
Over his final 25 games at Duke, Flagg averaged 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks while shooting 45.1% from behind the 3-point arc. He entered the NBA Draft as one of the most highly touted prospects of his era, surpassed only by Victor Wembanyama and perhaps Zion Williamson.
One of the few blemishes on Flagg’s resume is the painful way his lone season at Duke ended. The Blue Devils lost to Houston in the national semifinals after coughing up leads of 59-45 with 8:17 left, 64-55 with 3:03 left and 67-61 with less than a minute to go.
Flagg had one chance to flip the narrative, one chance to salvage Duke’s flickering title hopes in the final seconds. The short pull-up jumper that Flagg attempted is one that he has hit dozens of times. That time, he left it short.
To Mackenzie, the takeaway from that agonizing sequence is not the miss but rather Flagg’s mentality.
“He certainly wishes he could replay it, but he also knows it’s part of the journey,” Mackenzie said. “He’s never going to shy away from the big moment just because they don’t all work out in his favor. He wants to play in those big games. He wants the ball in his hands. He understands that being a player of his caliber comes with a lot of responsibility.”
There’s a burden associated with being anointed basketball’s next rising star.
At just 18 years old, Flagg is ready to embrace it.
Three summers ago, Cooper Flagg took on his biggest challenge yet. The 15-year-old from small-town Maine traveled to USA Basketball headquarters in Colorado Springs to compete against older, more heralded prospects for a spot on the U17 national team.
Whereas many other players at the tryout hunted their own shots in an effort to stand out from their peers, Flagg refused to succumb to the temptation to hoist contested jumpers or step-back 3s. He showcased his talents in other ways, as a willing passer, instinctive cutter, versatile defender, dogged rebounder and supportive teammate.
Forty-six prospects were invited to USA Basketball’s junior national team minicamp that year. Thirty-four earned the opportunity to try out for the team that would vie for gold at the FIBA U17 World Cup. Flagg not only made the 12-man roster, he also posted an absurd 10 points, 17 rebounds, 8 steals, 4 blocks and 2 assists in a gold-medal game victory over talented Spain.
“It was incredible to be there firsthand and see him win over NBA scouts and USA Basketball people session by session,” Andy Bedard, Flagg’s AAU coach since he was 10 years old, told Yahoo Sports. “There were six or seven sessions before they made the cut. I thought he was the best player on the floor in five or six of those sessions. He was the most mature one out there and he was the only one without a driver’s license.”
(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
Stories like that exemplify why those in Flagg’s circle are convinced he’s ready for the unusual burden that comes with the Dallas Mavericks selecting him No. 1 overall in Wednesday’s NBA Draft. Instead of joining a bottom-tier franchise that can afford to develop young players slowly, Flagg goes to a veteran team built to win right away, one that’s counting on him as a savior after trading away Luka Dončić last February in a stunning blockbuster.
At 16, he turned down offers to play for powerhouse AAU programs and guided a group of his childhood friends from Maine to the Nike Peach Jam title game. At 17, he earned the respect of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and the rest of the U.S. Olympic team with an impressive showing during a scrimmage in Las Vegas. At 18, he exceeded impossibly high expectations for his lone college season, leading Duke to the Final Four and capturing all but one of the major national player of the year awards.
“Cooper is just wired different,” his longtime trainer, Matt Mackenzie, told Yahoo Sports. “He thrives in situations where he has pressure, where there are expectations placed upon him, where he has to prove that he is who people think he is. For him to be drafted No. 1, I can’t think of anyone more deserving, but I also can’t think of anyone more fit to handle it.”
It’s no surprise to anyone who watches basketball that Flagg was the first player selected on Wednesday night. That has been the inevitable outcome since long before he donned a Duke jersey and led the Blue Devils in every major statistical category.
As recently as a few months ago, few would have guessed Flagg would have been wearing a Dallas Mavericks cap as he strutted across the Barclays Center stage. Dončić led the Mavs to the 2024 NBA Finals. They were expected to contend again this past season before the Slovenian sensation missed time with lingering injuries and fell out of favor with general manager Nico Harrison.
Flagg and his Duke teammates were hanging after a home win over rival North Carolina in early February when freshman guard Darren Harris checked social media and recoiled in disbelief. The Mavericks had just traded Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, Harris informed the rest of the Blue Devils.
“We just all started going crazy,” Flagg told reporters on Tuesday. “It was such a shock to hear that.”
Little did Flagg know at the time that the stunning trade would help determine his NBA future. The Mavericks slipped from eighth place in the Western Conference when they traded Dončić to 10th when the regular season ended. A loss in the play-in tournament cemented their place in the draft lottery. Then they overcame long odds to secure the No. 1 pick.
The decision to ship out an immensely popular perennial All-NBA candidate instantly turned Harrison into a target for backlash and vitriol. “Fire Nico!” chants from frustrated fans were a staple of Mavericks games the rest of the season. In Dončić’s first game back in Dallas, he scored 45 points and received thunderous ovations from the American Airlines Center crowd.
When asked Tuesday about the possibility of going to Dallas and having to try to match the standard Dončić set, Flagg insisted he doesn’t see it that way.
“Some people would say it’s pressure following Luka,” Flagg said. “I wouldn’t look at anything as pressure. I think whatever situation I go into, I’m just going to try and be myself all the time and push myself to be better and better every day.”
That approach certainly has worked for Flagg so far.
Over his final 25 games at Duke, Flagg averaged 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks while shooting 45.1% from behind the 3-point arc. He entered the NBA Draft as one of the most highly touted prospects of his era, surpassed only by Victor Wembanyama and perhaps Zion Williamson.
One of the few blemishes on Flagg’s resume is the painful way his lone season at Duke ended. The Blue Devils lost to Houston in the national semifinals after coughing up leads of 59-45 with 8:17 left, 64-55 with 3:03 left and 67-61 with less than a minute to go.
Flagg had one chance to flip the narrative, one chance to salvage Duke’s flickering title hopes in the final seconds. The short pull-up jumper that Flagg attempted is one that he has hit dozens of times. That time, he left it short.
To Mackenzie, the takeaway from that agonizing sequence is not the miss but rather Flagg’s mentality.
“He certainly wishes he could replay it, but he also knows it’s part of the journey,” Mackenzie said. “He’s never going to shy away from the big moment just because they don’t all work out in his favor. He wants to play in those big games. He wants the ball in his hands. He understands that being a player of his caliber comes with a lot of responsibility.”
There’s a burden associated with being anointed basketball’s next rising star.
At just 18 years old, Flagg is ready to embrace it.
The Dallas Mavericks selected Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Flagg, the 6-foot-9 phenom from Maine, has been tabbed by scouts as the top player of the 2025 draft class for a long time — a two-way talent with a refined game well beyond his years. And now, he’s landing on a Mavericks roster that needs — and fits — his skill set, but is structured to unleash him from Day 1.
From a fantasy perspective, this isn’t your typical “rookie wait-and-see” scenario. Flagg is walking into a featured role with a green light to contribute across the stat sheet. With elite tools, an NBA-ready body and the intangibles that coaches love, he’s primed to make an impact in both points and category leagues right away.
The question isn’t if Flagg will be drafted in standard leagues — it’s how early you’ll have to reach. Let’s dive in.
Why Cooper Flagg is fantasy-ready
Flagg arrives in Dallas with a polished skill set rare for an 18‑year‑old: dominant scoring and defensive instincts, elite athleticism, advanced court vision and plus rebounding from the wing that will fit perfectly in Jason Kidd’s system.
That versatility translates directly to fantasy, too. In Flagg’s only collegiate season at Duke, he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 3s, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, with 48/39/84 shooting splits. He was one of two D1 players to lead his team in the five main statistical categories (PTS, REBS, ASTS, STLS, BLKS/G). A special player who has the tools to wreak havoc from day one.
How Cooper Flagg stacks up with history
It’s never easy performing under the pressure of being the No. 1 overall pick. In the past decade, the only No. 1 overall picks to finish inside the top 100 in fantasy in their rookie seasons were Victor Wembanyama, Karl-Anthony Towns and Deandre Ayton.
I project Flagg to be a top-60 player, with the upside for more. His defensive prowess and Kyrie Irving’s early-season absence could initially expand his role, opening up more playmaking potential for the rookie.
Where to draft Cooper Flagg in fantasy basketball next season
The Mavericks have a clear path to giving him 30+ minutes a night from the outset. He’ll be in the starting unit and when factoring in his all-around production, I project he’ll score at least 34 fantasy points per game.
In 9-category leagues, Flagg doesn’t have many holes in his game. While I don’t expect him to have a 30% usage rate, as he did at Duke, I’m encouraged by his 16.3% turnover rate, which is relatively low for a player projected to be a second- or third-scoring option. The area of opportunity is 3-point shooting. Over the final 18 games of his collegiate career, he shot 44% from 3-point range, compared to 22% through his first 10 games. It’s always nice to see improvements throughout the season. With that, I’d expect Flagg to be a multi-category asset with dual position eligibility at small forward and power forward.
Final verdict: I hate drafting rookies early in fantasy (full disclosure). However, Flagg will be a force, driven by his scoring volume, usage, efficiency and stock potential. I’d feel comfortable drafting him in the fifth round in either points or category leagues, but fantasy managers will likely see him dominate the Vegas Summer League and he’ll end up with an ADP well into the third or fourth rounds by the preseason.
