Cooper Flagg is a "generational talent" that the Dallas Mavericks had to take a "once-in-a-lifetime chance" to select.

That is according to the Mavs' general manager Nico Harrison, who was delighted to have secured the 18-year-old, who is the second-youngest number one pick in NBA history.

Flagg is older than only LeBron James, who was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003.

James has been among those to express huge excitement at Flagg's potential, and the Mavs, who traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last season, are thrilled to have him on board.

"It's a generational talent, a once-in-a-lifetime chance," Harrison said, as reported by ESPN.

"So just top to bottom, we're excited."

Harrison believes this is a huge moment not just for the present, but for Dallas' long-term future.

"I think it's win now. It's also win in the future," added Harrison, whose role in the organization has come under scrutiny from Mavs fans.

"We don't know when, but eventually it's going to be Cooper's team. We don't know when that transition will happen. So I think it's win now and then set yourself up to win in the future as well.

Signing off @Academy // #FlaggCaptured #MFFL pic.twitter.com/E4foYXOrXJ

— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) June 26, 2025

"Even though he's supposed to be graduating from high school this year, he's going to be additive to what we're doing.

"He is going to help the timeline of winning now, but also he's 18 years old, so he's also going to help the timeline of winning in the future.

"I think the biggest thing is he's a two-way player. 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."

Flagg, for his part, is just excited to get started in the NBA.

"I'm feeling amazing. It's a dream come true, to be honest," Flagg said.

"I'm really excited. I think I keep saying I'm excited to be a sponge, to get down there and just learn, be surrounded by Hall of Fame-calibre guys, and just to be able to learn from them.

"It's going to be an incredible experience. I feel so blessed to be in the position I am."

According to Opta's draft model, Flagg is the sixth-best prospect from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) since 2013, after Karl-Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Suggs and Chet Holmgren, who helped the Oklahoma City Thunder win the championship last week.

Flagg averaged 19.2 points per game across 37 appearances for the Duke Blue Devils last NCAA season.