Cooper Flagg thinks he will have some "cool" opportunities if he is selected by the Dallas Mavericks as the number one pick at next month's NBA draft as is expected.
"As far as Dallas goes, I mean, they've got a lot of really good pieces. D-Live (Dereck Lively), coming from Duke, that's pretty cool. So, I think it would be a really cool opportunity for sure," Flagg said on the sidelines of the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
The top prospect also said he was as surprised as everyone else when Dallas beat the odds to win the top pick during the NBA's Draft Lottery on Monday (May 12).
READ: Mavericks win NBA Draft Lottery, eye college star Flagg
"I mean, I was surprised. I think, like a lot of people. It was kind of a crazy Draft Lottery," he said.
The Mavs will get the chance to draft Flagg, who led Duke to the Final Four in his only season with the Blue Devils, just months after the controversial trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
General manager Nico Harrison was frequently criticized for the trade of a generational talent who had carried the team to the 2024 NBA Finals.
Another player expected to be selected early, Rutgers guard Dylan Harper, said he was taking in the combine and drawing wisdom from his dad, former Chicago Bull Ron Harper, and his brother, Ron Harper Jr who plays for the Detroit Pistons as well as from his mother.
"I had people around me that had such high IQs and taught me the game the right way. They teach the right things. When I was younger, it was always 'do the right thing'. Never do something because it's convenient for the moment. So, that's really helped me," Harper said.
Harper said his parents had also passed on some restaurant recommendations for while he is in the Windy City for the combine.
"My mom and dad told me about Harold's Chicken. I've hit that once. That's about it, though. I'm still looking," he said.
(Production: Eric Cox, Kurt Michael Hall)