Chicago Bulls were a coin toss away from stealing Duke's Cooper Flagg from the Dallas Mavericks
Cooper Flagg, a standout college basketball player from Duke, announced his entry into the 2025 NBA Draft, where he is expected to join the Dallas Mavericks after they secured the top pick. The Chicago Bulls narrowly missed the opportunity to select Flagg due to a crucial coin toss that determined draft positions between teams with identical records. Dallas, benefiting from the coin toss, moved from having the 11th best odds to securing the No. 1 pick, while Chicago remained at the 12th spot. This outcome was particularly heartbreaking for Chicago fans who were hopeful of acquiring Flagg, projected as a future star of the league. The draft's top pick decision was determined by a lottery system that employs a combination of ping pong ball draws, underscoring the randomness and stakes involved in the selection process.
Context:
Cooper Flagg, a standout college basketball player from Duke, announced his entry into the 2025 NBA Draft, where he is expected to join the Dallas Mavericks after they secured the top pick. The Chicago Bulls narrowly missed the opportunity to select Flagg due to a crucial coin toss that determined draft positions between teams with identical records. Dallas, benefiting from the coin toss, moved from having the 11th best odds to securing the No. 1 pick, while Chicago remained at the 12th spot. This outcome was particularly heartbreaking for Chicago fans who were hopeful of acquiring Flagg, projected as a future star of the league. The draft's top pick decision was determined by a lottery system that employs a combination of ping pong ball draws, underscoring the randomness and stakes involved in the selection process.
Dive Deeper:
Cooper Flagg, a highly anticipated college basketball player from Duke, confirmed his entry into the 2025 NBA Draft, fulfilling a lifelong dream and an exceptional year at Duke.
Throughout the season, Flagg was projected as the No. 1 overall pick, and on draft night, the Dallas Mavericks secured his rights by obtaining the top position in the draft lottery.
The draft order for the top picks was influenced by a coin toss between the Chicago Bulls and the Dallas Mavericks, both of which ended the season with identical records.
The Mavericks' fortune changed dramatically due to the coin toss, as they leapt from having the 11th best odds to securing the coveted No. 1 draft pick.
In contrast, the Chicago Bulls, who lost the coin toss, were left with the 12th spot, missing out on the chance to draft Flagg, much to the disappointment of their fans.
The lottery system, which uses a combination of ping pong ball draws, added an element of chance to the draft process, highlighting the unpredictable nature of securing top talent.
Hunter Cookston, a sportswriter with a passion for basketball and an affinity for the Tennessee Volunteers, covered this dramatic draft story, contributing his insights to the Sporting News.
The main question throughout the college basketball season centered around Cooper Flagg. While many assumed he would be a one-and-done player, he made it clear that he would stay in Durham if that was the best decision for him. Just days before the NBA Draft declaration deadline, he made it official.
“Duke fans, my teammates, the brotherhood, and everybody that was along for this journey, it was an incredible year. Probably the best year of my life. I have so much gratitude, I feel so blessed for all the opportunities I was given. Duke has always been a dream for me and I’m excited to announce I will be entering my name in the 2025 NBA Draft,” Flagg announced.
Flagg has been the projected No. 1 overall pick all season, and on Monday night, he finally learned where he’ll be headed. The Duke star is expected to join the Dallas Mavericks, who secured the top pick in the draft. But if not for a coin toss, it could have been the Chicago Bulls landing Flagg.
“Since Chicago and Dallas had the same record, the coin flip determined who would have the 11th spot and who would have the 12th spot. Chicago lost the toss and had the 12th spot. They ended up staying at 12 after the lottery, while Dallas, who got the 11th best odds, jumped all the way to No. 1,” nbaonespn posted.
It’s a heartbreaking outcome for Chicago fans, who came incredibly close to landing the future face of the league. The No. 1 pick is awarded based on a combination placed on a ping pong ball drawn during the lottery. Had the Bulls won the coin toss, the winning combination would have been theirs, as they would have flipped with the Mavericks
Because of that lost coin toss, the Bulls remain near the end of the lottery—while the Mavericks walk away with the most prized prospect in the draft.