In a surprising turn of events, the Dallas Mavericks secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, giving them the opportunity to select Duke star Cooper Flagg. The odds were stacked against them, with only a 1.8% chance of landing the top pick, especially after trading Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. Now, general manager Nico Harrison has a major decision to make, as Flagg is widely considered a generational talent—if he fulfills his projected potential.
Despite the widespread belief that Flagg should be the top pick, not everyone agrees. Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins is among the skeptics. On the show Run It Back, Cousins argued that Flagg isn’t even worthy of the No. 1 selection. Instead, he believes Ace Bailey deserves the honor, going as far as to compare Bailey to Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady, calling him “the closest thing we’ve seen” to the former NBA great.
Most analysts continue to back Flagg as the consensus No. 1. Even before his college debut at Duke, the hype surrounding him was intense. During the 2024-25 season, he played in 37 games and posted impressive stats: 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 48.1% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc.
Bailey, meanwhile, had a strong freshman campaign at Rutgers. In 30 games, he averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, and one steal per game, with shooting splits of 46% from the floor and 34.6% from three-point range.
Now, the Mavericks face a pivotal choice: keep the pick and likely take Flagg, pivot to Bailey, or consider trading the pick for a proven veteran to speed up their rebuilding process. While Cousins’ opinion is valid, the prevailing sentiment still favors Flagg as the top selection. If things go as expected, Bailey would be the next player off the board.
The 2025 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25, and fans won’t have to wait much longer to see how it all unfolds.