As anticipated, the Dallas Mavericks choose Cooper Flagg with prime decide whereas Dylan Harper joins Victor Wembanyama at San Antonio Spurs.
Cooper Flagg anticipated the second for a lot of months.
Nonetheless, when the Duke product heard his identify referred to as Wednesday at No 1 general within the NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks, he skilled a flurry of feelings.
“I’m feeling superb,” Flagg mentioned as he stood together with his household. “It’s a dream come true, to be trustworthy. I wouldn’t need to share it with anyone else.”
The Mavericks’ announcement ended a months-long buildup for the 18-year-old Maine native, who had lengthy been projected as the highest decide. The one query was which group would get an opportunity to take him, and Dallas earned that chance when it received the NBA Draft lottery final month regardless of 1.8 p.c odds.
Flagg figures to rapidly present a brand new face of the franchise for the Mavericks, who drew ire from their fan base after buying and selling Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers final season.
The 6-foot-8-inch (2.03m), 221-pound (100kg) Flagg helped information Duke to an NCAA Remaining 4 look after averaging 19.2 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks as a freshman. He received the Wood Award because the nation’s finest participant, together with taking residence different honours together with Atlantic Coast Convention Rookie of the Yr and an ACC All-Defensive Crew nod.
The San Antonio Spurs adopted with the No 2 decide, which they used to pick Rutgers guard Dylan Harper. The son of longtime NBA participant Ron Harper will be a part of a proficient roster that features prized massive man Victor Wembanyama and reigning Rookie of the Yr Stephon Fortress.
Harper mentioned he couldn’t wait to get to San Antonio to arrange for the season.
“I’m feeling the whole lot – all of the feelings blended in a single bucket,” Harper mentioned. “I believe whenever you play with a bunch of nice gamers, it brings the most effective out of you. They’ve bought an amazing younger core over there. I’m simply able to get in there and make an affect any method I can with these guys.”
At No 3, the Philadelphia 76ers chosen guard VJ Edgecombe out of Baylor. He was named Huge 12 Freshman of the Yr after averaging 15 factors and 5.6 rebounds for the Bears.
The Charlotte Hornets chosen Duke guard Kon Knueppel subsequent, which marked the second Blue Devils freshman to be chosen within the prime 4 picks. Now, Knueppel will keep in North Carolina to play within the NBA.
“It was a giant highlight at Duke,” he mentioned. “(We) freshmen didn’t shrink back from that, and it ready us for the subsequent degree. Hopefully, that may carry over.”
The Utah Jazz chosen Ace Bailey, who performed with Harper at Rutgers, to spherical out the highest 5 picks.
Flagg’s Duke teammate, centre Khaman Maluach, heard his identify referred to as at No 10 general. The decide belonged to the Houston Rockets, who then despatched the draft rights to Maluach to the Phoenix Suns as a part of a deal to be finalised for Kevin Durant.
Maluach was born in South Sudan and didn’t uncover basketball till he was an adolescent.
“I’m right here representing the entire continent,” Maluach mentioned. “Leaving Africa, I had the entire continent on my again. (I need to be) giving hope to younger youngsters, inspiring younger youngsters and the subsequent technology of African basketball.”
The Mavericks had the No 1 general decide for the second time in franchise historical past. Additionally they had the highest choice in 1981, after they drafted Mark Aguirre out of DePaul.
