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Well, hated Mavericks GM Nico Harrison did it. He drafted Duke sensation Cooper Flagg as the No.1 overall pick in the hopes of creating a new era for Dallas.
Once Flagg was drafted, Harrison was asked by the media if he thinks the criticism he faced after the bombshell Luka Doncic trade will quieten down now that the team has landed a star like Flagg.
“I’m hoping so,” Harrison said with a small smile. “I’m assuming so, a little bit maybe.”
It may take some more time, since Mavs fans at the Dallas watch party were still chanting ‘Fire Nico’. Yikes.
“Fire Nico” chants at the AAC for the Dallas Mavericks Draft Watch Party.
Dallas is currently on the clock with the No. 1 pick. pic.twitter.com/qmYnQw2ePb
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) June 26, 2025
Despite Dallas fans holding a grudge, Longtime NBA insider Shams Charania is a big fan of what Nico is doing in Dallas.
“Whatever you want to say about the Luka Doncic trade, Nico Harrison has built arguably the best front line in the NBA,” Shams declared. “You think about Anthony Davis. Now Cooper Flagg. Dereck Lively II. They just extended Daniel Gafford on a new three-year, almost $60 million deal.
“The biggest key of this season is going to be Kyrie Irving. If he was healthy right now, we’d probably be talking about this team with the Oklahoma City Thunder, competing for a championship.”
The controversial GM says the team is excited the team is to land such a unique prospect.
“It’s a generational talent, a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” Harrison said. “So just top to bottom, we’re excited.”
Harrison went on to say he thinks Flagg will make an impact on both ends of the floor.
“I think the biggest thing is he’s a two-way player,” Harrison said. “When you watch him play, he plays hard. … When you have a player that’s that good and people talk about the intangibles — they don’t talk about basketball — then that’s a guy who’s going to add to your culture.”
READ MORE: Cooper Flagg Embracing the Spotlight as Mavericks’ New Franchise Face
