On paper, the Knicks appear closer to championship contention. But Dallas has something New York doesn’t: Cooper Flagg. While the Knicks won’t make a selection until the late second round, the Mavericks are adding a player who hasn’t drawn this much hype since Zion Williamson.

After his second NBA season was cut short due to wrist surgery, Prosper is recovering, taking classes and even teaching a few youngsters, too.

The Mavericks have had a roller coaster of a season. They start the season a bit shaky, and then they make what most call a boneheaded move by trading their superstar, Luka Doncic, to the Lakers. After that, they endure a stretch of injuries unlike any other, and they end the season with the No. 1 pick.

Chris Paul was surprised like the rest of us when the Dallas Mavericks won the NBA Draft lottery last month, which added to the "crazy" group chat with friends and teammates after his own former squad,

Their regular season record left them tied with the Chicago Bulls, and a coin toss ultimately helped them secure the No. 1 pick-a turn of events that could dramatically reshape the future of the franchise.

Stephen A. Smith explains what Cooper Flagg needs to do in the NBA to live up to the hype on Watch ESPN, first streamed on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.