ESPN reporter explains why Cooper Flagg wants to play for the Dallas Mavericks

Cooper Flagg hadn’t even announced that he would play for the Duke Blue Devils when NBA scouts already deemed him the consensus first-overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

His lone season with the Blue Devils only confirmed that. He was the most spectacular player in all of college basketball last season, and it wasn’t particularly close.

That’s why, now that he’s firmly expected to play for the Dallas Mavericks, who control that No. 1 pick, he won’t even work out for other teams. That’s, according to Shams Charania, because he legitimately believes he can win a ring in Dallas as a rookie.

Cooper Flagg wants to win a championship right away

“He will both step into a significant role and have a chance to immediately contend for a playoff appearance alongside several key veterans,” read the report.

Cooper Flagg #51 warms up.

Needless to say, the Mavericks won’t be the only talent-heavy team in the NBA, and the Western Conference will continue to be an absolute blood bath for the foreseeable future.

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But even if they fail to go all the way and win an NBA championship in his first year in the league, there’s no denying that he could lead them to perennial championship contention right out of the gate.