At just seventeen years old, Cooper Flagg made his presence felt at UNLV`s Mendenhall Center on July 8, 2024, despite not having played a single game for Duke University.
He immediately captured the attention of future NBA Hall of Famers who were training there for their upcoming journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics with Team USA.
Flagg arrived with immense anticipation, widely considered the most hyped American high school basketball prospect since LeBron James, who was drafted first overall years before Flagg`s birth. While James and his Olympic teammates recognized Flagg`s name, they were eager to witness his skills firsthand.
His invitation to the Team USA select squad marked the first time in over a decade that an amateur player had been included. Previous invitees like Doug McDermott and Marcus Smart in 2013 were already established collegiate stars.
This scrimmage during Team USA`s training camp presented the ultimate challenge for the young prodigy. The central question was whether Flagg would show any signs of intimidation while facing the very All-Stars he had admired on television, or if he would feel nervous playing in a confined gym filled with NBA coaches and executives.
His performance left no doubt: absolutely not.
“Zero nerves,” stated 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to ESPN, reflecting on his initial encounter with the 6-foot-9 forward, who is now set to join him in the Dallas Mavericks` frontcourt this season. “He just went out and played his game.”
Flagg has returned to Las Vegas for a final preseason preparation, with the Mavericks scheduled to face the Los Angeles Lakers in their exhibition finale at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday. However, his true “welcome to the NBA” moment happened 15 months prior, just a short distance away, where he definitively demonstrated his immediate potential to impact the league, despite still being a year away from draft eligibility.
Upon his arrival at the Team USA training camp in Las Vegas, Flagg was already widely considered the top prospect for the 2025 draft. Any remaining skepticism about his No. 1 potential vanished after the scrimmage concluded, as the Olympic team narrowly secured a 74-73 victory following a remarkable comeback largely driven by Flagg.
This performance significantly heightened expectations for Flagg as he moved on to Duke. There, he surpassed all anticipations, earning national player of the year accolades, leading the Blue Devils in every key statistical area, and guiding them to an ACC title and a Final Four berth.
Following the veteran-heavy Mavericks` astonishing luck in the lottery, securing the No. 1 pick with just 1.8% odds to select Flagg, there`s a strong belief that he can further develop his skills in his rookie season and establish himself as one of the few teenagers capable of immediately influencing NBA victories.
“I`m not sure if it was about proving anything to myself or simply gaining comfort and confidence from the experience,” Flagg shared with ESPN. “I distinctly felt that I belonged and was capable of competing at that level.”
Flagg`s Versatility and Impact
Upon reviewing film of Flagg`s comprehensive play at Duke, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd pondered if the young talent possessed even greater potential.
Kidd observed similarities between Flagg`s playing style and that of another Duke alumnus, Grant Hill. Hill, who was a co-Rookie of the Year with Kidd in 1994-95, often served as the primary ball-handler for the Detroit Pistons. Kidd recognized in Flagg the same remarkable combination of intuition and power that Hill displayed upon leaving Duke.
“I noticed that as well,” Hill, who served as managing director for Team USA and extended the invitation to Flagg for the select team, and also commentated on some of his college games for CBS, told ESPN. “He aims to play a well-rounded game. You might check the scoreboard and see he has 22 points, yet it feels as if he wasn`t actively seeking to score. His unselfishness and defensive effort are remarkable; he simply strives to do whatever it takes to win.”
Upon Flagg`s arrival in Dallas, Kidd was keen to assess his capabilities as a point guard and how he would adapt to an unfamiliar role. This experimental phase began during Flagg`s short appearance in the Las Vegas Summer League, where the Mavericks achieved split results in the two games he participated in at the Thomas & Mack Center.
In the summer opener, Flagg struggled with his shooting, making only 5 of 21 attempts. However, he notably influenced the decisive play in the victory against the Lakers. In the final minute, Flagg executed a weak-side block on a layup, then swiftly transitioned the ball, attracting three defenders before passing to a teammate for an uncontested three-pointer that secured Dallas`s lead.
During the second game, a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Flagg impressively scored 31 points in 31 minutes. Satisfied with his performance, particularly his composure under pressure while handling the ball, the Mavericks decided to conclude his Summer League participation early.
“He managed the situation as effectively as any 18-year-old could,” commented Kidd, who deployed Flagg as a point guard in a larger lineup during Monday`s preseason victory against the Utah Jazz. “Winning is inherent to his nature, so it would be unjust not to challenge him.”
A Fearless Performance
Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, who led the Team USA select squad, stated that the most impactful moments from Flagg`s national team training camp experience weren`t during the scrimmage itself, but rather during the preceding practices and team meetings.
Mosley was particularly impressed by Flagg`s sharp intellect and curious nature, highlighting an extensive discussion between Flagg and Magic guard Jalen Suggs concerning the complexities of NBA defensive strategies.
“He posed numerous questions,” Mosley informed ESPN. “For a young player in his position, asking the right questions is crucial. He sought to grasp the demands of the next level. His communicative nature spoke volumes to me; players with high basketball IQs who are committed to playing correctly are always keen to learn.”
Subsequently, Flagg delivered a courageous performance during the scrimmage.
“He showed no fear of the moment or the caliber of his opponents,” Mosley observed. “He remained true to himself. I believe he entered with a reserved confidence, and that composure never wavered once he stepped onto the court with those seasoned players.”
Demonstrating a “signature” sequence during the scrimmage, Flagg orchestrated a late scoring surge, igniting the select team`s comeback from a significant deficit. This included a baseline turnaround jumper from the left block over Jrue Holiday, an impressive off-the-dribble three-pointer from the right wing contested by Davis, and an athletic and-one tip-in over Bam Adebayo, which prompted a thunderous reaction from his entire bench.
These three impactful scores were achieved against a formidable defensive trio, collectively boasting 16 All-Defensive Team selections. Despite these impressive plays, Flagg remained outwardly calm and focused, refraining from any celebration. He described his time with the select team as a valuable learning experience, but emphasized that his performance against the Olympians didn`t particularly surprise him.
“He was outstanding,” Davis remarked. “He truly distinguished himself. While we had all heard his name and knew of him, many players can feel a certain hesitation when competing against established stars like myself, LeBron, or Steph Curry. It`s a natural reaction to face players you`ve idolized. You grow up looking up to and idolizing these players, and suddenly you`re playing against them. It`s normal to feel nervous. Yet, with Flagg, he possesses an unparalleled self-confidence.”
Although Flagg`s scoring prowess garnered significant media attention during the scrimmage, it was his exceptional command of the game at such a young age against elite opponents that most profoundly impressed Steve Kerr, the former Team USA coach.
“I recall the palpable impact he made,” Kerr conveyed to ESPN. “You recognized his presence instantly, not just from a spectacular dunk, but as a complete basketball player. It was his passing, his precise cuts, and his clutch, left-handed jump hook from the block when offensive options were exhausted. His consistency was remarkable. Even while coaching against him with our top players, his exceptional court awareness was evident. Despite his size, he navigates the game with the vision and instincts of a guard.”
Kerr remembered seeing Duke coach Jon Scheyer in the gym following the scrimmage.
“I commented, `That must have left you feeling quite pleased,` ” Kerr recounted. “He simply offered a smile in response.”
Kidd now understands that sentiment.
Rupert Hollis