To add to the accolades, Flagg won ESPN’s ESPY award for the 2025 Best Male College Athlete on Wednesday afternoon. 🏀 @DukeMBB ➡️ @dallasmavs @Cooper_Flagg takes home the @ESPYS Best College Athlete - Men's Sports award! 🏆 @MarchMadnessMBB x @MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/7jYKl1r0BK

Duke Reacts to Exciting Cooper Flagg News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Before the Dallas Mavericks made him the No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg carved out his legend with the Duke Blue Devils.

The Newport native and Dallas Mavericks rookie became the first basketball player to win the award in nine years.

The Duke Blue Devils went on a great run during the 2024-25 college basketball season. Led by Cooper Flagg, the storied program made it all the way to the Final Four before being eliminated by the Houston Cougars.

After playing in his sixth NFL season, Las Vegas Raiders Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby showed appreciation for an incoming NBA rookie.

Harrison then reiterated that the team doesn’t want Irving to rush back onto the court. While Irving’s out, key players like D’Angelo Russell (who attended Monday’s Mavericks-Hornets summer league game) will be expected to step up and run the offense.

The Mavericks shot just 2-of-14 from the field as a group and managed only 11 points in the first quarter. Their last field goal came at the 4:35 mark when Cooper Flagg made a contested layup. While shutting them down, the Spurs surged ahead to grab a 21-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

It’s been a remarkable year for basketball prodigy Cooper Flagg, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Draft this past June.