Cooper Flagg

[W8ting2McHale]

Flagg has been pretty open about playing for the C's eventually.  That could be interesting in a few years.

Payton gonna get in his ear during USA Select team workouts and tell him what it?s like being a Celtics and winning championships.

[Goldstar88]

From NESN:

Spanning through New England, the impact reached the family of Cooper Flagg in Newport, Maine. Growing up with his brothers, Ace and Hunter, becoming Celtics fans was instilled early on from their parents, who both played college basketball in Maine.

It?s just our culture, Cooper?s mom, Kelly Flagg, told NESN.com at the HoopHall Classic. I love it. My husband loves it. We always have it on. We?re huge Celtics fans. We used to watch film on the Celtics with the older guys (Larry) Bird, (Kevin) McHale, (Robert) Parish, (Danny) Ainge who was my guy. We had that on. We bought the kids the 1985-86 Celtics DVD set. That was Cooper?s Christmas present when he was eight. When we traveled to AAU events down here in Massachusetts, it would play in our van.

Cooper?s love for the Celtics continued as he got older, consistently asking for Celtics and Duke University gear for Christmas. With the current Boston teams, one superstar combines those passions in Jayson Tatum, who played his college ball with the Blue Devils before the Celtics drafted him in the first round in the 2017 NBA Draft.

As the top high school recruit in the nation, Flagg committed to Duke back in October and has formed a solid relationship with Tatum.

He reached out to me during the recruiting process, Flagg told NESN.com on Friday. Obviously, I was at his camp over the summer. Having that relationship and him being a player I model my game after and watched for a long time is really inspiring. Someone that I just like to watch and take a lot of things from. He?s a really special player.

[Roy H.]

I hope he ends up with a competent franchise, but my prediction is Charlotte.

[Goldstar88]

I hope he ends up with a competent franchise, but my prediction is Charlotte.

Charlotte has some nice young players, though. Ball, Miller, Flagg. That could be fun to watch. I?d hate to see him go to the Pistons.

[Roy H.]

Chris Forsberg @ChrisForsberg_
yesterday
Cooper Flagg everywhere as select team rallies ahead of Team USA reserve group late in this scrimmage. pic.twitter.com/RlEgSjrw93

Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
yesterday
Maine?s Cooper Flagg is dominating this USA scrimmage: Turnaround jumper over Jrue, 3 in AD?s face, and soaring and-1 putback as he?s knocked to ground.

If they sold Select Team USA Flagg jerseys, they'd sell out instantly here in Maine.

[Celtics2021]

I hope he ends up with a competent franchise, but my prediction is Charlotte.

You should hope he goes to some team he?ll hate so he forces his way to Boston in the future.  They probably aren?t picking first, but Sacramento is always a good choice.  So is Washington, and they are even tanking.

Flagg has chosen to go to Duke, so there is a chance he might not hate Charlotte.

[Wretch]

I hope he ends up with a competent franchise, but my prediction is Charlotte.

You should hope he goes to some team he?ll hate so he forces his way to Boston in the future.  They probably aren?t picking first, but Sacramento is always a good choice.  So is Washington, and they are even tanking.

Flagg has chosen to go to Duke, so there is a chance he might not hate Charlotte.

Charlotte's new ownership has shown some competence in comparison to the Jordan ownership group. (not hard but still positive for the teams fans)

[Roy H.]

All Cooper Flagg had to do was show he belonged on the floor with the NBA?s best. He accomplished that feat in Day 1 of the scrimmages between the U.S. Men?s Olympic team and the Select Team.

But in Day 2, Flagg was making an impact during scrimmages and showing why next season could be a tankathon among the league?s bottom-feeding franchises in the race to position themselves for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

In one sequence the media was allowed to see during the final 10 minutes of the scrimmage, Flagg ? listed at 6-foot-8 and slightly over 200 pounds ? stole the show as the Select Team was making a comeback against the NBA?s stars.

First, he calmly nailed a wing triple over Lakers star Anthony Davis? outstretched arms. Then, as Davis leaked out, Flagg disrupted the long pass and tracked back downcourt.

Following a missed shot, he swooped in with a tip and foul on Miami?s Bam Adebayo. It?s not like there are stats officially being kept, but that was a glimpse of what Duke is getting later in the fall, and what the NBA will look forward to, as the stands were filled with coaches and front office personnel.

Cooper Flagg has made quite the impression playing against LeBron James and the U.S. men's national team during scrimmages at the team's training camp in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
They were buzzing, not about the result, as the Olympic team escaped with a one-point win after Davis blocked Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski?s shot in the final seconds. But those who saw the whole thing were whispering about Flagg.

Olympic coach Steve Kerr isn?t allowed to talk about Flagg specifically due to draft rules, but he spoke highly of the Select Team?s performance as a whole. There was light concern about Flagg coming in and perhaps not being able to hang with the physicality of the game, but he answered that question resoundingly.

?I?m confident in my ability and my skill," Flagg said afterward. "So yeah, at the end of the day I?m confident in who I am and what I can do.?

Flagg won?t turn 18 until late December, so he wasn?t expected to dominate the day, and no one would say he was the best player on the floor ? after all, it?s not a stretch to say all 12 members of the Olympic team will make the Hall of Fame.

But there is some hope attached to him, and he probably knows it. Going into the year with the Duke pedigree will be one thing, but along with that will be the belief he could be the next American-born star to come down a pipeline that?s increasingly filled by foreign players.

As far as the first two days of camp, though, he was just playing ball. And doing it well.

?It?s some pressure ? I wouldn?t say pressure, kinda a surreal feeling to be able to share the court. I?m blessed to have this opportunity and to be here,? Flagg said. ?So just knowing I could go out here and compete, I kinda had no worries. I didn?t put no pressure on myself, just because I?m here for a reason. I?m confident, I was just playing ball.?

The Select Team seemed to be a worthy tune-up for the Olympic team, who?ll play an exhibition game against Canada on Wednesday night in Las Vegas. It?s almost a crash course in a way for the United States team ? a talented squad to be sure, but the countries they?re competing against have been working out and playing together for some time. Flagg doesn't seem to think that will matter for Team USA, however.

?They can be whatever team they wanna be. They have no weaknesses, no holes,? Flagg said. ?They can play any type of way and dominate. It?s just gonna be a dominant team that forces its will on everybody.?

But for the moment, or at least a few moments, Flagg planted himself among the game?s elite. He can carry that to Duke and beyond ? presumably even putting himself in the Olympic pipeline for the Americans.

The Select Team is usually filled with young players on rookie deals as opposed to the next tier of NBA stars, but plenty of players have gone from the Select Team to the Olympic team in one cycle of four years.

?It just adds confidence, continuing to get better and proving stuff,? Flagg said. ?Just seeing the success and going for what I know. I know I can do it, it just adds confidence.?

[Roy H.]

I hope he ends up with a competent franchise, but my prediction is Charlotte.

You should hope he goes to some team he?ll hate so he forces his way to Boston in the future.  They probably aren?t picking first, but Sacramento is always a good choice.  So is Washington, and they are even tanking.

Flagg has chosen to go to Duke, so there is a chance he might not hate Charlotte.

Charlotte isn't where I want him to end up, but it's my prediction.

I'm not sure where I'd want him to go.  Looking at the potential lottery teams, I can see upside just about everywhere.   Even a team like the Bulls, who have no direction:  it's got to be awesome to be the face of the franchise in a city like Chicago, right?

Agreed on Washington, though.  They may be the worst of the worst right now.

[Kernewek]

As long as it's not Los Angeles, I don't mind where he ends up.

[gift]

Cooper says the '85-'86 Celtics are the best team of all time.

https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1810531404238950857

[Donoghus]

Cooper says the '85-'86 Celtics are the best team of all time.

https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1810531404238950857

2 out of 3 ain't bad. 

[Roy H.]

Cooper says the '85-'86 Celtics are the best team of all time.

https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1810531404238950857

2 out of 3 ain't bad. 

If he'd said Kobe or Lebron I might have to disavow him.

But, I'm calling out Flagg's parents for not teaching a sense of history.  There's only one acceptable answer to defensive GOAT, and that's Bill Russell.

[Vermont Green]

All Cooper Flagg had to do was show he belonged on the floor with the NBA?s best. He accomplished that feat in Day 1 of the scrimmages between the U.S. Men?s Olympic team and the Select Team.

But in Day 2, Flagg was making an impact during scrimmages and showing why next season could be a tankathon among the league?s bottom-feeding franchises in the race to position themselves for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

In one sequence the media was allowed to see during the final 10 minutes of the scrimmage, Flagg ? listed at 6-foot-8 and slightly over 200 pounds ? stole the show as the Select Team was making a comeback against the NBA?s stars.

First, he calmly nailed a wing triple over Lakers star Anthony Davis? outstretched arms. Then, as Davis leaked out, Flagg disrupted the long pass and tracked back downcourt.

Following a missed shot, he swooped in with a tip and foul on Miami?s Bam Adebayo. It?s not like there are stats officially being kept, but that was a glimpse of what Duke is getting later in the fall, and what the NBA will look forward to, as the stands were filled with coaches and front office personnel.

Cooper Flagg has made quite the impression playing against LeBron James and the U.S. men's national team during scrimmages at the team's training camp in Las Vegas. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
They were buzzing, not about the result, as the Olympic team escaped with a one-point win after Davis blocked Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski?s shot in the final seconds. But those who saw the whole thing were whispering about Flagg.

Olympic coach Steve Kerr isn?t allowed to talk about Flagg specifically due to draft rules, but he spoke highly of the Select Team?s performance as a whole. There was light concern about Flagg coming in and perhaps not being able to hang with the physicality of the game, but he answered that question resoundingly.

?I?m confident in my ability and my skill," Flagg said afterward. "So yeah, at the end of the day I?m confident in who I am and what I can do.?

Flagg won?t turn 18 until late December, so he wasn?t expected to dominate the day, and no one would say he was the best player on the floor ? after all, it?s not a stretch to say all 12 members of the Olympic team will make the Hall of Fame.

But there is some hope attached to him, and he probably knows it. Going into the year with the Duke pedigree will be one thing, but along with that will be the belief he could be the next American-born star to come down a pipeline that?s increasingly filled by foreign players.

As far as the first two days of camp, though, he was just playing ball. And doing it well.

?It?s some pressure ? I wouldn?t say pressure, kinda a surreal feeling to be able to share the court. I?m blessed to have this opportunity and to be here,? Flagg said. ?So just knowing I could go out here and compete, I kinda had no worries. I didn?t put no pressure on myself, just because I?m here for a reason. I?m confident, I was just playing ball.?

The Select Team seemed to be a worthy tune-up for the Olympic team, who?ll play an exhibition game against Canada on Wednesday night in Las Vegas. It?s almost a crash course in a way for the United States team ? a talented squad to be sure, but the countries they?re competing against have been working out and playing together for some time. Flagg doesn't seem to think that will matter for Team USA, however.

?They can be whatever team they wanna be. They have no weaknesses, no holes,? Flagg said. ?They can play any type of way and dominate. It?s just gonna be a dominant team that forces its will on everybody.?

But for the moment, or at least a few moments, Flagg planted himself among the game?s elite. He can carry that to Duke and beyond ? presumably even putting himself in the Olympic pipeline for the Americans.

The Select Team is usually filled with young players on rookie deals as opposed to the next tier of NBA stars, but plenty of players have gone from the Select Team to the Olympic team in one cycle of four years.

?It just adds confidence, continuing to get better and proving stuff,? Flagg said. ?Just seeing the success and going for what I know. I know I can do it, it just adds confidence.?

Although your posts are littered with hot takes that misfire  , you were all over Cooper from the start. Now the rest of the world is starting to catch up. What are the odds that a kid from Maine would have this much promise at age 17. 

[JBcat]

I hope he ends up with a competent franchise, but my prediction is Charlotte.

Charlotte has some nice young players, though. Ball, Miller, Flagg. That could be fun to watch. I?d hate to see him go to the Pistons.

A 1 2 punch with Cunningham would be fun to see, and their other young players Duren, Ivey, Thompson, Holland continue to grow with a couple solid vets around them.