Heading into the 2025 NBA draft, there was not much question about where former Duke star Cooper Flagg would end up. He was viewed as the clear-cut No. 1 prospect in the 2025 class, and he was unsurprisingly selected first by the Dallas Mavericks with the first pick on Wednesday night.
It was so clear that Flagg was going to end up being a Maverick that his loved ones were able to dress in colors that matched their uniforms. Two of the people who attended the draft with him included his brother Ace Flagg and his girlfriend, Lizzy Gruber. The couple both wore chic blue outfits to the draft. Gruber posted an image of the two of them together on her Instagram story on Thursday morning.
Cooper Flagg played one season in college at Duke before declaring for the 2025 NBA draft. He helped lead the team to a Final Four appearance in March Madness this past season. In 37 games, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.
He is now joining a Mavericks team that is in a much better position than most teams that pick first overall. The Mavericks are one season removed from qualifying for the NBA Finals and played in the play-in game this past season. The main reason they missed the playoffs was because of injuries.
Heading into next season, the Mavericks are expected to be much more competitive in the Western Conference. They have a team with several veteran stars, including Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. If Cooper Flagg immediately steps into the NBA as a star, the Mavericks could contend with some of the best teams in the West.
Cooper Flagg’s Brother, Ace, Will Start His College Career Next Season
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While Cooper Flagg is getting ready to start his NBA career, his brother, Ace, is getting ready to start his college career. Ace Flagg is a three-star recruit in the 2025 class. He is not nearly as exciting a prospect as Cooper, but he still got attention from some top programs.
Ace Flagg is signed to play for the Maine Black Bears next season. He is a power forward who stands 6’7″ tall. While he is tall, he is lacking in weight for a man his size, weighing in at 180 lbs. At this time, he is not projected to develop into an NBA prospect, but with the influence of his brother, anything is possible.
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