puis dans la liste qui s’affiche, cliquez sur AdBlock
Par Guillaume Kagni | Journaliste sportif
Just a few months after Luka Doncic left for the Lakers, Mavericks fans received some excellent news: Cooper Flagg is set to move to Dallas next month. News that doesn’t seem to please the main player.
Because the Hornets, Wizards and Jazz were the teams most likely to get the first pick in the 2025 Draft, Cooper Flagg could harbor hopes of becoming a franchise player on his first day in the NBA. Unfortunately for him and his immense ambition, the lottery balls decided to play a rather unexpected trick on him.
In a crazy turn of events, it’s the Mavericks who will be first on the clock next month. The Duke prodigy will be playing on a roster packed with veterans, starting with Anthony Davis, who won’t want to relinquish his place as boss. On his return from injury, Kyrie Irving will also need the ball to regain his sensations.
Cooper Flagg dodges Mavericks in interview
So the question is simple: will Cooper Flagg have the freedom to showcase his talent in Texas? Given the look on his face at the time of the announcement, many fans doubt his excitement and even wonder if he won’t be pressured to go elsewhere. His words to ESPN won’t reassure the pessimists:
It’s a great experience to be here, it’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid. For me, the most important thing before the draft will be to improve in all areas, there’s no one aspect I’m looking at in particular. As I said, I’m happy to be in this process, I’m looking forward to contributing on both sides of the field, and I’m going to try to do that as best I can.
I didn’t try to think too much about the franchises I might fall into, it wasn’t really something I could control. I’m immersed in the process, like all the other players in this crop. I want to make the most of every moment, because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Asked specifically about his arrival in Dallas by Kendrick Perkins and Bob Myers, Cooper Flagg took care to kick the can down the road and never mention the Mavericks’ name during the interview. Is this proof that he doesn’t want to land with the franchise, or simply a precaution since Nico Harrison could trade that first pick for Giannis Antetokounmpo? What’s certain is that there will be speculation between now and the draft.
