Jay Bilas Calls Conspiracies on Mavs Landing Duke Blue Devils Star Cooper Flagg ‘Laughable’…
Longtime ESPN college basketball analyst and Duke alum Jay Bilas has weighed in on the growing swirl of conspiracy theories surrounding the Dallas Mavericks and their potential future pursuit of Cooper Flagg, the top-ranked prospect in the class of 2024. Flagg, a projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and a current Duke Blue Devil, has already generated massive attention, and some fans and pundits have begun to speculate that NBA teams — particularly the Mavericks — might manipulate future outcomes to position themselves to draft him.
Speaking on ESPN Radio, Bilas did not hold back when addressing the idea that the Mavericks, currently contending for an NBA title behind Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, would somehow land Flagg in the 2025 draft.
“It’s laughable. Completely absurd,” Bilas said. “The Mavericks are in the NBA Finals. They’re clearly a title-contending team. The idea that they or the league would somehow orchestrate a path for them to land the No. 1 overall pick next year is the stuff of fantasy — not reality.”
The theory, which has gained some traction on social media, suggests that the NBA might benefit from pairing Flagg — a white American phenom from Maine — with a high-profile team like the Mavericks to increase marketability and ratings. Some fans have pointed to the NBA Draft Lottery system as historically “lucky” for certain franchises and suggest the league subtly influences outcomes. Bilas, a former Duke player and one of the most respected voices in college basketball, dismissed the notion outright.
“There’s always a segment of fans who want to believe everything is rigged when things don’t go the way they expect,” Bilas added. “But you’re talking about a lottery system that’s overseen with more transparency than ever. These accusations aren’t just baseless — they’re a disservice to the game and the people working in it.”
Cooper Flagg’s arrival at Duke has been one of the most hyped moments in recent college basketball history. The 6-foot-9 forward brings a rare combination of athleticism, basketball IQ, and defensive versatility, drawing comparisons to NBA greats even before playing a minute of college ball. NBA scouts have had their eyes on him since his dominant performances at Montverde Academy and with Team USA.
Given the Mavericks’ current success, the suggestion that they’d be in a position to land Flagg seems more rooted in speculation than logic. Dallas is built to contend for years with Dončić in his prime, and the NBA’s current lottery odds system makes it highly unlikely that a Finals team would end up with a top pick barring a rare trade scenario.
“Cooper Flagg is going to change the fortunes of whatever franchise gets him,” Bilas said. “But let’s not go down the rabbit hole of conspiracies. Let’s just enjoy his journey.”
As Flagg prepares for his freshman season at Duke, all eyes will be on him. But if Jay Bilas is right — and history is any indicator — any attempt to predict his NBA destination a year early, especially through the lens of conspiracy, is exactly what he called it: laughable.
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