Cooper Flagg has become the most talked-about prospect as people eagerly await the 2025 NBA Draft. This college standout is shaking things up across the association and capturing the attention of every team.
But it was a recent comment from a college basketball analyst that truly raised eyebrows across the basketball world.

NBA Draft Analyst Makes Bold Claim About Mavericks GM Nico Harrison
Nico Harrison and the Mavericks have found themselves immersed in the gossip mill after a string of contentious decisions. The most significant move made by Harrison was trading All-Star Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
Consequently, many Mavericks fans have turned away and are demanding Harrison be dismissed.
“Nico [Harrison] would get fired if he even brought that up.” 😅
Jonathan Givony says there’s NO chance Dallas trades the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. @DraftExpress | @KevinOConnorNBA
(via The Kevin O’Connor Show) pic.twitter.com/IZIiSKHJ9W
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 16, 2025
Remarkably, amidst problems facing the team, the Mavericks earned the top spot in the 2025 NBA Draft with a 1.8% chance. It seems certain that the Mavericks will select Duke’s Flagg as the No. 1 pick. He is nearly universally seen as the most desirable pick in the draft.
There has never been so much riding on the Mavericks and Harrison in the NBA Draft. Authorities on the college and NBA Draft scenes are adamant that selecting anyone other than Flagg would be a major blunder. For Harrison, failing to choose Flagg with the first pick could be a decision that seals his fate in Dallas.
But experts have underscored that, given the circumstances, selecting anyone other than Flagg at No. 1 would be inexplicable and only serve to drive a wedge between the Mavericks organization and the fanbase.
Continuing to overlook Flagg would inevitably lead to demands for Harrison to be relieved of his responsibilities.
As a matter of fact, Jonathan Givony, on “The Kevin O’Connor Show,” said, “Nico [Harrison] would get fired if he even brought that up.”
Others claimed that Mavericks owner Patrick Dumont should dismiss Harrison now because of the string of disastrous moves and suggested that failing to choose Flagg would be unforgivable.
KEEP READING: 2-Round 2025 NBA Mock Draft Features Groundbreaking Trade, Surprising Fall for Certain Blue Devil
Next week’s NBA Draft will determine the future of both the Mavericks and Harrison’s tenure as general manager. According to analysts, Flagg presents the type of talent that’s almost impossible to pass up.
Not choosing Flagg at No. 1 would almost assuredly result in Harrison losing his job and defining his tenure with the Mavericks as one marked by significant missteps.
Failure to select the right path moving forward could prove very dangerous for the Mavericks.
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