For Duke basketball, the term “Brotherhood” is more than just a slogan — it’s a lifelong connection. That bond is now on full display in the NBA, as Dallas Mavericks teammates Dereck Lively II and Cooper Flagg are forming a relationship rooted in their shared Blue Devil heritage.
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, enters the league with sky-high expectations after a dominant freshman season at Duke. Lively II, meanwhile, is entering his third professional season after being drafted No. 12 overall in 2023 by the Oklahoma City Thunder and later traded to Dallas. Though their Duke careers didn’t overlap, the two have been acquainted for years, and Lively has made it his mission to ensure Flagg’s transition to the NBA is as smooth as possible.
Lively knows first-hand how challenging the leap from college to the NBA can be. A one-and-done player himself, he averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and shot .658 from the field during his lone season in Durham before turning pro. Now, he’s passing down the lessons he learned to his younger Blue Devil counterpart.
“I’m making sure that he’s feeling as comfortable as possible,” Lively said at the Mavs Academy Hoops Camp. “Giving him any little detail or any little thing to give him. Because whenever I was in his position, I remember how frightened I was, and I was only 19 — and he’s 18.”
Flagg’s resume already speaks volumes. He was named National Player of the Year as a freshman in 2024-25, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He became the sixth Duke player to be selected first overall, joining a list of legends who have carried the program’s NBA reputation to new heights.
Lively said he’s been impressed by how grounded Flagg has remained despite the massive spotlight. “He’s just been the same, just smiling, cracking jokes as I’ve always known,” Lively shared. “I’m glad he’s been able to still be himself and not have too much of the spotlight just rain on him.”
The Dallas connection runs deeper than just these two Blue Devils. Flagg will also share the locker room with fellow Duke alumnus Kyrie Irving, who has built a Hall of Fame-caliber career since his own one-and-done season in Durham. While Irving is currently recovering from a torn ACL and won’t be on the court for some time, his presence adds another layer of mentorship for Flagg.
Flagg’s first taste of NBA action came in the 2025 Summer League, where he impressed fans and coaches alike. In his debut against the Los Angeles Lakers, he scored 16 points, showing flashes of his all-around skillset. He followed that with a dominant 31-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs before the Mavericks opted to shut him down for the remainder of the summer, prioritizing his health and development.
With Lively anchoring the paint, Irving providing veteran leadership, and Flagg bringing a new wave of excitement, the Mavericks have built a Duke-heavy core that could develop into one of the league’s most intriguing storylines. The shared history and mutual respect among the trio could prove invaluable as Dallas aims to contend in a crowded Western Conference.
For Duke fans, seeing their stars unite in the NBA is a reminder that the Brotherhood truly extends far beyond Cameron Indoor Stadium. The sight of Lively mentoring Flagg, and eventually sharing the court with him and Irving, will be a powerful symbol of how the program’s culture of support continues to thrive on the biggest stage.
As the season approaches, the NBA will get to see whether this Blue Devil bond can help Dallas make a deep playoff run. For now, though, it’s clear that in the Brotherhood, there are no rookies — just family members ready to help each other succeed.
