Cooper Flagg is the best player in the 2025 NBA Draft, period.
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith doesn't disagree, but he also thinks Flagg's race matters in the decision-making for the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 1 overall pick.
Rumors have floated about Dallas trading the first pick. Smith thinks they should keep it because Flagg is white.
“When you’ve got somebody with that kind of potential and they’re white and you are in America, you keep that dude. I’m telling you right now,” Smith said Wednesday on First Take. “With my Black self, I’m the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, I ain’t thinking about drafting somebody else. I’m not thinking about moving Cooper Flagg. I’m drafting Cooper Flagg… just think about the marketability.”
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Smith credited his own line of thinking to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
“Jerry Jones taught me this,” Smith said. “Texas is different. And in Dallas, Texas, if you got an opportunity to get Cooper Flagg, you take Cooper Flagg.”
Smith knew his own reputation, though, and quickly backed off just a bit before reiterating his stance.
“People love to misquote this show. I am in no way saying that you keep the number one overall pick just because Cooper Flagg is white. The first order of business is, he can ball,” Smith said. “It’s because he can play, but the fact that he’s white, marketable, even his name makes him more marketable! I’m not passing that up at all.”
College basketball insider Jeff Goodman pushed back entirely against Smith's take.
What does being white have to do with this? This is a stupid take.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 14, 2025
Whether he is white or not, Cooper Flagg is considered a “can’t miss” player with high, high upside by basically every single NBA executive.
That’s why you don’t trade him. It’s got nothing to do with him… https://t.co/PhGKteNSlq
The reality is that Flagg's basketball talent will get him taken at the top of the draft, by the Mavs or a team that swings a big trade to get to that spot.
Flagg is a hooper, and that's that.
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