Stephen A. Smith Mentions Cooper Flagg's Race As A Reason To Draft Him

The Dallas Mavericks won nan Cooper Flagg sweepstakes earlier this week erstwhile they secured nan first wide action of this year's NBA Draft.

The Mavs person already insinuated nan prime is not disposable successful a trade, and each signs constituent to them taking the Duke star.

It amounts to a bailout for Dallas, which traded distant Luka Dončić during nan season.

Because nan Mavericks had only a 1.8% chance of getting nan first pick, location has been speculation nan lottery was rigged.

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Duke Blue Devils guardant Cooper Flagg reacts successful nan 2nd half astatine Dean E. Smith Center.  (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)

Either way, it's a immense boost for nan Mavs, who are getting conscionable nan 4th subordinate to triumph nan Wooden Award arsenic a freshman, joining Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson.

However, Stephen A. Smith said Flagg's accomplishment wasn't nan only logic to prime him.

"When you’ve sewage personification pinch that benignant of potential, and they’re White and you are successful America, you support that dude. I’m telling you correct now," Smith said connected Wednesday's version of "First Take."

Smith backtracked a tad, noting nan Mavs shouldn't prime Flagg strictly because he is White.

The Dallas Mavericks observe winning nan NBA Draft Lottery. (AP/IMAGN)

"The first bid of business is he tin ball," Smith added. "It’s because he tin play, but nan truth that he’s White, marketable — moreover his sanction makes him much marketable. I’m not passing that up astatine all."

Smith's comments echo immoderate made astir Caitlin Clark past year, notably WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson.

"I deliberation it’s a immense thing. I deliberation a batch of group whitethorn opportunity it’s not astir Black and White, but, to me, it is," Wilson said astatine nan time. "It really is because you tin beryllium top-notch astatine what you are arsenic a Black woman, but yet possibly that’s thing that group don’t want to see.

"They don’t spot it arsenic marketable, truthful it doesn’t matter really difficult I work. It doesn’t matter what we each do arsenic Black women, we’re still going to beryllium swept underneath nan rug. That’s why it boils my humor erstwhile group opportunity it’s not astir race, because it is."

Duke Blue Devils guardant Cooper Flagg (2) dribbles nan shot against Houston Cougars guardant J'Wan Roberts (13) during nan first half of a Final Four crippled during nan 2025 NCAA Tournament astatine nan Alamodome.  (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)

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The NBA Draft, wherever Flagg will formally find retired his master destination, is scheduled for June 25.