Cooper Flagg says it feels ‘surreal’ to be top pick in 2025 NBA draft
Duke University basketball star Cooper Flagg is ready for his NBA moment.
Flagg, 18, was the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft Wednesday night and will spend his rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks.
“It feels amazing. So many emotions,” Flagg told ABC News’ Rhiannon Ally after his selection was announced. “It’s just so surreal to be here and going through this.”
The 6-foot-9-inch forward is the second-youngest No. 1 draft pick in NBA history.
Flagg was a front-runner for the top draft pick ever since his 2023 decision to graduate high school a year early and start college as a 17-year-old, according to ESPN.
At Duke, Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists, and led the Blue Devils to a Final Four appearance this year.
As soon as he enters the NBA, Flagg will go in the history books as only the third person born in the state of Maine to play in the NBA.
In a live interview on “Good Morning America” ahead of Wednesday’s draft, the basketball star told co-anchor Robin Roberts he has the support of his family, his friends and his home state.
“I think for me, coming from Maine, it’s a huge part of who I am and what I represent, and I have the whole state behind me, and I feel their support every day,” he said.
In addition to that support, Flagg attributes his own competitiveness, drive and self-motivation to helping him reach the NBA draft.
“It’s about just sending that message that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, where you grow up. As long as you believe in yourself and really work hard, you can really achieve your dreams,” Flagg told Roberts.
