The Boston Celtics and former star of Duke Jayson Tatum had great praise for the current Duke Star Cooper Flagg.
“The first impression I had for Coop was how hard he played, how he competed,” said Tatum, 27, during a recent appearance on “new heights.”
“In high school, it is rare to see a guy who wants to protect the other better player, trying to block each shot, bouncing. And he only plays in the right way.”
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Duke Blue Devils Cooper Flagg striker (2) dives the ball during the first half against Baylor Bears in the second round of a NCAA tournament game at the Lenovo Center on March 23, 2025. (Zachary TAft/Imagn images)
The Celtics star said he saw Flagg play during his summer camp two years ago.
“He has a great feeling for the game. He knows how to establish a screen. He knows when to cut. He likes to involve his teammates, and has been on display throughout the season and a great reason why they have the opportunity to win a championship,” Tatum said.
Flagg has been the catalyst of a Duke team that is 33-3 and in Dulce 16.
The first year student Star was an All-American consensus during the 2024-25 campaign and is the favorite to win the player of the year after averaging 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 robberies and 1.3 blocks per game.
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Duke Blue Devils Cooper Flagg striker (2) controls the ball when Baylor Bears Norchad Omier (15) defends during the second half in the second round of the NCAA tournament at the Lenovo Center on March 23, 2025. (Zachary TAft/Imagn images)
However, Flagg suffered an ankle injury in Duke’s victory over Georgia Tech in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament and the rest of the ACC tournament was lost. Duke still prevailed to win it.
Flagg returned from the dominant victory injury 93-49 of Duke over No. 16 sown by Mount St. Mary’s and played 22 minutes, scoring 14 points and registering seven rebounds, five assists and a blockade.
In the 32nd round, Flagg played 29 minutes in Duke’s 89-66 victory over Baylor. Flagg had 18 points, nine rebounds, six assists and a block in victory.
Duke will trust Flagg at the Sweet 16, where the Blue Devils Face No. 4-SEMBRADO ARIZONA on Thursday at 9:40 pm et.
The Boston Celtics striker, Jayson Tatum (0), turns beyond Sacramento Kings Keon Ellis (23) in the second quarter in the Golden 1 Center on March 24, 2025. (Edmondson/Imagn images)
Tatum, who played in Duke for a season in 2016-2017, could not win a title in his unique year of university basketball.
The native of St. Louis averaged 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 robberies and 1.1 blocks per game in 29 games. Tatum was the general selection number 3 of the Celtics in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Tatum has spent the eight seasons of his NBA career with the Celtics, has been appointed for the All-Star team six times and was a key gear in the race for the title of the Celtics last season.
