The Duke basketball program hasn't won an NCAA title since 2015 but they've produced NBA stars including Cooper Flagg, whose height became a surprise topic recently. Flagg will team up with two fellow former Blue Devils stars, media day fan Dereck Lively II and Kyrie Irving, this season in Dallas with the Mavericks.
The trio became a topic of conversation during media day as they posed for a picture that Duke basketball fans will love, representing multiple eras in one picture.
Article Continues BelowDUKE REUNION IN DALLAS 👏
Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II represent the Duke brotherhood on the Mavs this upcoming season! https://t.co/G2TUzRJWRA pic.twitter.com/wb05GH6Xn4
— NBA (@NBA) September 26, 2026
Flagg took the college basketball world by storm in Durham, North Carolina with coach Jon Scheyer's team as he averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in his freshman season. Flagg's rookie year with the Mavericks was even better as he topped those totals in two of the three categories, averaging 7.3 rebounds.
Flagg has been give an outside shot at winning MVP heading into the 2026-27 season under coach Dusty May, who guided Michigan basketball to the 2025-26 national championship. Irving is coming off of surgery for a torn ACL in his left knee and has preached patience with the Mavericks heading into a 2026-27 season that could go in several different directions.
Duke basketball fans know all too well the twists and turns that can unfold during a basketball season, dating back to their upset loss at the hands of the UConn Huskies after an unforgettable last second game winner from Byron Mullins during the Elite Eight.
The Mavericks are stacked with talented players, including three that Duke hoops fans know as well as any other fanbase. The possibilities are endless, and well worth watching, this fall in Dallas.