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Cooper Flagg is one of the most publicized perspectives in the recent NBA history, but says that exaggeration was not always there.
The Duke Phenom and the number 1 selection projected in the next NBA draft told The Associated Press that, when they grow, they told him that he would never reach his basketball goals.
Flagg said the doubts were due to where it was.
“Growing up in Maine, there are people who told me that I could never reach the next level or play basketball from Division I because I am from Maine and nobody plays there,” Flagg said. “I think that only that message does not matter where you are, as long as you work hard and trust yourself and trust your ability, then you can really achieve anything.”
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Duke’s Cooper Flagg cleanses his face during a press conference after Duke lost to Houston in national semifinals on April 5, 2025 in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Very few basketball stars have come from Maine. Miami Heat player Duncan Robinson was born in Maine, but grew up in New Hampshire and was not recruited in the 2018 draft.
The most prominent player who left Maine was the former Olympic gold medalist Jeff Turner, who played to Vanderbilt in the early 1980s and played in the NBA since 1984-96. But I was out of the NBA since 1986-89 while playing in Italy.
Flagg is expected to become the most talented basketball player who comes out of the state in its history.
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Duke Cooper Flagg reacts at the bank after being accidentally beaten on the face during the first half of a game against Florida State in Durham, NC, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
FlagG led Duke this season in almost all statistical categories, including points (709), rebounds (278), assists (155), robberies (52) and blocks per game (1.4). He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 robberies, but his best performance was in January when he established an ACO Freshman record with a 42 -point performance against Notre Dame.
Flagg closed the year with a semifinal appearance in the NCAA tournament and was appointed the winner of the Naismith 2025 player, becoming the fourth first year student to win that honor.
Duke Blue Devils Cooper Flagg’s guard before a game against Syracuse Orange at Jma Wireless Dome. (IMAGN)
“It doesn’t matter where you are from,” Flagg said Wednesday at Draft Combine. “If you have a goal, if you have a dream and you put your mind … I want to say, sincerely, for me, it was not real until I was in high school, but I always loved the basketball game. I always put the job. I always wanted to be the best thing it could be.”
Dallas Mavericks are expected to write Flagg after winning the first selection in the NBA Draft Lottery of 2025.
