Flagg was born inNewport, Maine,[2] and initially attendedNokomis Regional High School.[3] He became the first freshman to be named the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game.[4] Nokomis won the Class A state championship with Flagg scoring 22 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in a 43–27 win againstFalmouth High School in the state final.[5]
Flagg transferred toMontverde Academy inMontverde, Florida, at the end of his freshman year of high school.[6] Prior to the beginning of his first year at the school, he played in theNike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) for the Florida Eagles, anAmateur Athletic Union team affiliated with Montverde.[7][8] Flagg was named the MVP of the 2023 Hoophall Classic after scoring 21 points with five steals, five rebounds, and three assists in Montverde's 85–63 victory over La Lumiere Academy.[9] He also was named a semifinalist for theNaismith Prep Player of the Year Award.[10] Flagg averaged 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and three assists per game in his first season at Montverde.[11] After the season, he played for Maine United in the EYBL and averaged 25.4 points, 13 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 6.9 blocks in seven games at the Peach Jam tournament.[12][13] Flaggreclassified to the 2024 recruiting class after his sophomore year.[14]
Flagg was ranked the third-best prospect in the 2025recruiting class following the conclusion of his freshman season.[21][22] He re-ranked as the class's second-best recruit in August 2022 following his performance in the2022 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup.[23] Flagg received his firstNCAA Division I scholarship offer fromBryant while in the eighth grade.[24]
Flagg reclassified to the class of 2024 during the summer after his sophomore year.[14] On October 30, 2023, Flagg verbally committed to play forDuke after also considering an offer fromUConn.[25][26] He had initially planned to announce his commitment on October 27, but pushed it back in the aftermath of the2023 Lewiston shootings in his home state of Maine.[27] Flagg signed aNational Letter of Intent to play for the Blue Devils on November 8, 2023, during the early signing period.[28] Flagg finished as the highest rated recruit in the 2024 class.[29]
Cooper Flagg second half free throwFlagg in March 2025
Flagg enrolled atDuke University in June 2024 in order to take part in theBlue Devils' summer practices.[30] He made his college basketball debut during Duke's season opener against Maine on November 4, 2024, and scored 18 points with seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals in a 96–62 win.[31] On November 18, Flagg earnedAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) rookie of the week honors.[32] On December 31, he scored 24 points, six assists, and four steals in a 88–65 win overVirginia Tech.[33] On January 4, 2025, Flagg had a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds in a 89–62 win againstSMU.[34]
Flagg delivered a record-breaking performance in Duke's victory againstNotre Dame on January 11, 2025. He scored 42 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out seven assists, shooting 11-of-14 from the field, 4-of-6 from three-point range, and 16-of-17 from the free-throw line. This set new freshman scoring records for both Duke University and theACC.[35] On January 18, Flagg scored 28 points and five rebounds in a 88–63 win overBoston College.[36] On January 25, 2025, Flagg scored 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a 63–56 win overWake Forest.[37] On January 27, Flagg scored 28 points and seven rebounds in a 74–64 victory againstNC State.[38] On February 1, Flagg tallied 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a 87–70 win against arch-rivalNorth Carolina.[39] On February 12, Flagg scored 27 points and five rebounds in a 78–57 win againstCalifornia.[40] On February 17, Flagg had a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds in a 80–62 win overVirginia.[41] He became the firstACC player with 500+ points, 100+ assists and 30 blocks in the regular season in the last 25 years.[42] On March 3, Flagg scored 28 and tallied eight rebounds and seven assists in a 93–60 victory againstWake Forest.[43]
Flagg led the Blue Devils to theACC regular season title, as Duke finished 19–1 in conference play.[44] On March 13, 2025, Duke would go on to defeatGeorgia Tech 78–70 in the quarterfinals of theACC Tournament despite Flagg leaving the game due to a sprained ankle injury, which forced him to miss the rest of the tournament.[45] On March 15, Duke defeatedLouisville 73–62 in the ACC tournament championship game.[46] Flagg and Duke entered theNCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the East region and defeated bothMount St. Mary's andBaylor in the first and second rounds of the tournament.[47][48] On March 27, Flagg scored 30 points, six rebounds and seven assists in a 100–93 win overArizona in the Sweet 16.[49] On March 29, Flagg added 16 points and nine rebounds in a 85–65 victory againstAlabama in the Elite Eight.[50] On April 5, Flagg scored 27 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in a 70–67 loss againstHouston in the Final Four.[51] Following his freshman season, Flagg declared for the2025 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.[52]
Flagg was selected with thefirst overall pick by theDallas Mavericks in the2025 NBA draft.[55] He was signed on July 2, 2025.[56] In his NBA regular season debut on October 22, 2025, Flagg put up 10 points, 10 rebounds, and one steal in a 125–92 loss to theSan Antonio Spurs.[57][58] Because his surname is Flagg, Mavericks fans have started shouting it in the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the lyric, "…that ourflag was still there."[59]
Flagg's mother Kelly playedcollege basketball atMaine, where she was a team captain as a senior.[66][67] His father, Ralph, playedNJCAA basketball atEastern Maine Community College.[68] Flagg has a fraternal twin brother,Ace, who was a teammate at Nokomis, transferred to Montverde,[69] and has since verbally committed to play atMaine starting in 2025–26.[70] Flagg's older brother Hunter was also a Nokomis basketball player and was a senior when the former was a freshman.[71] His family relocated from Newport to Florida after he and his twin brother transferred to Montverde Academy.[72]
Endorsements
Flagg signed a shoe deal withNew Balance prior to the start of his freshman year at Duke.[73] Flagg's decision to choose New Balance was influenced by the company's ties to his home state of Maine, with two of their factories being located near his hometown of Newport.[74] He also became the first men's college basketball player to be sponsored byGatorade.[75]
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