Why did the Mavericks choose him? The answer was on the farm 10 years ago...

What is the essence of the No. 1 pick?

is not about choosing the strongest player at the moment, but investing in someone who is most likely to win everything in the future. NBA teams’ routine due diligence will analyze data, watch videos, and conduct interviews, but these are all appearances. The real core is to explore the lowest driving force of this player - his personality core. The reason why the Mavericks dared to give Cooper Flag a contract of $13.8 million in the first year was because they received the most original and true due diligence report. This report has nothing to do with basketball. It comes from a Maine farm ten years ago. It only has one sentence: This 11-year-old child can turn peas picking into a life-and-death war.

This job is to work in the eyes of others, but in his eyes it is an absolute competition. Money by pound, one pound per dollar, Flag's goal is very clear: he must earn more than his two brothers.

The farmer recalled that other children always had to joke and play when working, but Flag was very focused and plunged into the farm work. As a result, he earned $100 in the first week. The boss and his wife even joked that they could not afford to hire him.

This not-so-conspicuous story happens to be what Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison values ​​the most. Everyone in the circle knows that when a player's skills are already top-notch and scouts and managers repeatedly praise his intangible assets, he may be the key figure who can change the team's culture.

Harrison said: "People talk about him not only about basketball, but about qualities outside of basketball." This is the real value of the cornerstone players.

Frager's family has a rule: "When you are the strongest person in the gym, you should change to a new one." This rule perfectly explains why he transferred to a prestigious basketball school in high school and why he entered university one year early. He is always looking for higher levels of competition. What's the result? He played a freshman season with Zion and Anthony Davis at Duke, dominating both offense and defense. This unwilling driving force to be mediocre is more telling than any gorgeous data.

What's even more rare is that this 18-year-old boy who got rich overnight is extremely calm and down-to-earth. Before the draft, he flew to Dallas alone for trials and meetings. He had no agent or entourage and was completely different from a No. 1 pick who was about to become a millionaire.

head coach Kidd also praised him: "It's incredible to listen to him. An 18-year-old man has the most appropriate answers to all questions." This kind of maturity beyond age makes Kidd dare to speak, and the new season will allow him to try multiple roles such as point guard and wing.

The child who turned peas picking into a war in Maine was actually the same person as the No. 1 pick who is about to enter the NBA today. As his mother said, "No matter what he does, he can become a competition."

This kind of competitive spirit that penetrates the bones and does not distinguish between occasions is the real treasure that the Mavericks bet on this time.