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Cooper Flagg is one of the best American prospects in years. His elite defense, versatility, basketball IQ and ability to impact every facet of the game made him the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Dallas Mavericks selected him to begin a new era for the franchise. However, another topic quickly captured fans’ attention — Cooper Flagg’s jersey.
Cooper Flagg chose No. 32 as his Mavericks jersey number rather than No. 2, which most basketball fans had associated him with as a Blue Devil. The decision carried years of personal history and family significance that stretched back to his childhood.
The History of No. 32 in Dallas Before Flagg
Several Mavericks had already worn this jersey number even before Cooper Flagg arrived.
One of the earliest notable players to wear the number was Detlef Schrempf. He spent the first three seasons of his NBA career in Dallas. Although Schrempf blossomed into a three-time All-Star after leaving the Mavericks, Schrempf remains one of the most successful players to ever wear No. 32 for the franchise.
The jersey later belonged to Herb Williams. He was a dependable veteran center who played three seasons in Dallas after arriving from Indiana. While never a superstar with the Mavericks, Williams provided leadership and interior toughness during the early ‘90s.
The most accomplished Maverick to wear No. 32 to date was Jamal Mashburn. “Monster Mash” was the fourth overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft and quickly became one of Dallas’s brightest young stars. He, Jason Kidd and Jim Jackson formed the celebrated “Three J’s” that gave fans hope for the franchise’s future.
The number resurfaced in later years with players like Christian Laettner, Brandon Bass, O.J. Mayo and Marquese Chriss, but none left the lasting impact of Mashburn. Cooper Flagg has the opportunity to redefine this jersey number for an entirely new generation of Mavs fans.
Why Cooper Flagg Wore No. 2 at Duke
Many fans first watched Flagg dominate college basketball while wearing No. 2. That’s why the discontinuity baffled the same people who have followed his career in the NBA.
The explanation is simple — No. 32 has been retired since 1992 by Duke.
That number belongs to Laettner, arguably the greatest player in Blue Devils history. The member of the 1992 Dream Team helped Duke win back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992 while becoming famous for his unforgettable buzzer-beater against Kentucky in the Elite Eight. His accomplishments earned him one of the program’s highest honors when Duke retired his jersey.
Because No. 32 was unavailable, Flagg selected No. 2 during his freshman season. The number also carried personal meaning, as Flagg has shared that he wore it in honor of family friend Donovan Kurt, who passed away from brain cancer in 2022. Although fans quickly associated him with No. 2 during Duke’s Final Four run, it was never his first choice.
Once Flagg reached the NBA, the opportunity to reclaim his preferred number finally arrived.
The Touching Story Behind Cooper Flagg’s No. 32 Jersey
The reason behind the Cooper Flagg jersey number has little to do with superstition or branding. Instead, it begins with his mother and fellow hooper, Kelly Bowman-Flagg. A Maine Sports Hall of Famer, Bowman-Flagg wore No. 32 in high school but not in college, as her other teammates already had it.
Cooper admired the number from an early age and adopted it throughout his youth basketball journey. That included his time at Nokomis Regional High School and powerhouse Montverde Academy. It became part of Flagg’s identity long before he emerged as the nation’s top recruit.
After Dallas revealed Flagg’s jersey number selection during its draft-night festivities, he explained that he wanted to return to the number because it honored his mother.
The story resonates even more because Kelly has openly discussed overcoming serious health challenges during Cooper’s childhood. Seeing her son carry the same number onto an NBA floor transforms the jersey into a tribute to perseverance, family and gratitude rather than simply a uniform choice.
For Flagg, No. 32 represents home, family and the people who shaped his basketball journey long before national fame arrived.
NBA Legends Who Made No. 32 Iconic
Cooper Flagg is hardly the first superstar to make No. 32 famous. These Hall of Famers, whose accomplishments set an incredibly high standard, wore the number first:
- Magic Johnson: Magic is the player most closely associated with No. 32. The Los Angeles Lakers legend won five NBA championships, captured three league MVP awards and three NBA Finals MVPs while redefining his position with his size and playmaking.
- Shaquille O’Neal: A two-time First Team All-American in college, Shaq wore No. 32 during his Orlando Magic years before switching numbers later in his career. During that period, Shaq became one of the NBA’s most dominant young centers and led Orlando to its first NBA Finals appearance.
- Julius Erving: Dr. J wore No. 32 for much of his ABA career. One of Michael Jordan’s childhood idols, he revolutionized above-the-rim basketball and remains one of the sport’s greatest innovators. His combined ABA and NBA résumé includes multiple MVP awards and championships.
- Karl Malone: The “Mailman” spent nearly his entire Hall of Fame career wearing No. 32 with the Utah Jazz. A two-time NBA MVP, Malone retired as one of the league’s all-time leading scorers and helped establish one of basketball’s greatest pick-and-roll duos alongside the NBA’s all-time assists and steals leader, John Stockton.
Every generation produces an elite player wearing the number. Can Cooper Flagg eventually join that list? Expectations are understandably enormous after entering the NBA as the consensus top prospect. It’s still early to view him as being on the same level as some of today’s best, including Victor Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards and Cade Cunningham. Still, he’s definitely in the conversation to be the future face of the league.
Greatness is earned over years of on-court excellence rather than predicted on draft night. If Flagg develops as expected, he may earn his right to join the pantheon of historic wearers of the No. 32.
Cooper Flagg’s Jersey Number Inspires
The story behind Cooper Flagg’s jersey is a reminder that a number is more than just a player identifier. From honoring the memories of a late friend to paying tribute to his mother’s basketball legacy, No. 32 reflects family, perseverance and tradition. As a franchise player with tremendous upside, Flagg can add his own chapter to one of basketball’s most iconic jersey numbers.
