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US teen Cooper Flagg chosen by Mavericks with top pick in NBA draft / Photo: Sarah Stier - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
US teen Cooper Flagg chosen by Mavericks with top pick in NBA draft
Versatile US college teen star Cooper Flagg was selected first overall in the NBA draft on Wednesday by the Dallas Mavericks, where he'll join a star-laden team already touted as a playoff threat next season.
Flagg, a consensus pick as the top US college player as a freshman at Duke University last season, is the second-youngest player taken first overall.
Superstar LeBron James was eight days younger when he was taken first overall in 2003 by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Mavericks beat the odds to land the top pick in the draft lottery and as expected grabbed Flagg, who averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocked shots per game for the Blue Devils, who lost to Houston in the semi-finals of the NCAA collegiate tournament.
The 6-foot-9 (2.06m) player from Maine is a two-way playmaker with tremendous athleticism and a relentless presence on both ends of the floor.
Flagg could be just the player Mavericks fans need to put aside the memories of Dallas trading star guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis in February.
He's the third number one pick on the Mavs' roster alongside Davis and Kyrie Irving, who is recovering from knee surgery.
R.Accetta--INP
