THE Dallas Mavericks have secured a new franchise cornerstone after trading away Luka Dončić last season, officially selecting Cooper Flagg as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, on Thursday (PH Time).
A fresh face is set to lead a revival in Dallas, as the Mavericks welcome Flagg—widely praised by league players as an NBA-ready talent—to take on the challenge of reenergizing a lost fan base.
Photo Courtesy: NBA
More than just a 6-foot-9 versatile forward, the rookie arrives from a stellar college run where he earned the John R. Wooden Award, Naismith Player of the Year, and AP Player of the Year honors.
Flagg enters the league as one of the youngest draft selections in NBA history—second only to LeBron James as the youngest No. 1 overall pick—after averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in his lone season at Duke.
“I think, just hearing my name get called, sharing that moment with my mom, my dad, and my two brothers, that’s a moment I’m gonna remember for the rest of my life,” Flagg said, shortly after getting drafted.
Who Went Where?
After Flagg, Filipino-American guard Dylan Harper was taken second overall by the San Antonio Spurs, potentially forming a dynamic backcourt pairing with Stephon Castle and joining Victor Wembanyama in a promising young core.
Harper made history as just the fifth player with Filipino roots to be drafted into the NBA, joining the ranks of Raymond Townsend, Jordan Clarkson, Jalen Green, and Jared McCain—a proud moment for the Filipino basketball community.
Rounding out the much-anticipated Top 5 were VJ Edgecombe, picked third by the Philadelphia 76ers; Kon Knueppel, selected fourth by the Charlotte Hornets; and Ace Bailey, who slid to fifth and was picked up by the Utah Jazz.
Bailey, once projected as high as No. 3, dropped in the draft after declining to participate in pre-draft workouts, including with the 76ers, who instead opted for Edgecombe at No. 3.
Following them in the Top 10 were Tre Johnson (Washington Wizards, 6th), Jeremiah Fears (New Orleans Pelicans, 7th), Egor Demin (Brooklyn Nets, 8th), Collin Murray-Boyles (Toronto Raptors, 9th), and Khaman Maluach (Phoenix Suns, 10th).
Also selected were Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies, 11th), Noa Essengue (Chicago Bulls, 12th), Derik Queen (New Orleans Pelicans, 13th), Carter Bryant (San Antonio Spurs, 14th), and Thomas Sorber (Oklahoma City Thunder, 15th)
In a surprise move, China’s Yang Hansen was picked 16th by the Portland Trail Blazers, making him one of the highest-drafted Chinese players in NBA history—joining the ranks of Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.
Following him were Joan Beringet (Minnesota Timberwolves, 17th), Walter Clayton Jr. (Utah Jazz, 18th), Nolan Traoré (Brooklyn Nets, 19th), and Kasparas Jakučionis (Miami Heat, 20th).
Here’s the remainder of the Round 1 list:
21. Will Riley – Washington Wizards
22. Drake Powell – Brooklyn Nets
23. Asa Newell – Atlanta Hawks
24. Nique Clifford – Sacramento Kings
25. Hase Richardson – Orlando Magic
26. Ben Saraf – Brooklyn Nets
27. Danny Wolf – Brooklyn Nets
28. Hugo González – Boston Celtics
29. Liam McNeeley – Charlotte Hornets
30. Yanic Konan Niederhauser – Los Angeles Clippers
The Second Round of the 2025 NBA Draft resumes tomorrow, with teams anticipated to take bigger risks and pull off surprising moves fueled by a night full of trades, all unfolding at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
