Cooper Flagg Reveals Why People Told Him He'd 'never Make It' As An Elite Basketball Player

Cooper Flagg is 1 of nan astir hyped prospects successful caller NBA history, but he says nan hype wasn't ever there. 

The Duke phenom and projected No. 1 prime successful nan upcoming NBA Draft told The Associated Press that, increasing up, he was told he would ne'er execute his hoops goals. 

Flagg said nan doubts were owed to wherever he was from. 

"Growing up successful Maine, there’s group that told maine I would ne'er beryllium capable to make it to nan adjacent level aliases play Division I hoops because I’m from Maine and cipher plays up there," Flagg said. "I deliberation conscionable that connection of it doesn’t matter wherever you’re from, arsenic agelong arsenic you activity difficult and spot yourself and spot your ability, past you tin really execute anything."

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Duke's Cooper Flagg wipes his look during a news convention aft Duke mislaid to Houston successful nan nationalist semifinals April 5, 2025, successful San Antonio.  (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Very fewer hoops stars person travel from Maine. Miami Heat subordinate Duncan Robinson was calved successful Maine, but he grew up successful New Hampshire and went undrafted successful nan 2018 draft. 

The astir salient subordinate to travel retired of Maine was erstwhile Olympic golden medalist Jeff Turner, who played for Vanderbilt successful nan early 1980s and played successful nan NBA from 1984-96. But he was retired of nan NBA from 1986-89 while playing successful Italy. 

Flagg is expected to go nan astir talented hoops subordinate to travel retired of nan authorities successful its history.

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Duke's Cooper Flagg reacts connected nan chair aft being accidentally deed successful nan look during nan first half of a crippled against Florida State successful Durham, N.C., March 1, 2025.  (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

Flagg led Duke this play successful almost each statistical category, including points (709), rebounds (278), assists (155), steals (52) and blocks per crippled (1.4). He averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 steals, but his champion showing was successful January erstwhile he group an ACC freshman grounds pinch a 42-point capacity against Notre Dame. 

Flagg closed retired nan twelvemonth pinch a semifinal quality successful nan NCAA Tournament and was named nan victor of nan 2025 Naismith Player of nan Year Award, becoming conscionable nan 4th freshman to triumph that honor.

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Duke Blue Devils defender Cooper Flagg earlier a crippled against nan Syracuse Orange astatine nan JMA Wireless Dome.  (Imagn)

"It doesn’t matter wherever you’re from," Flagg said Wednesday astatine nan draught combine. "If you person a goal, if you person a dream and you put your mind to it ... I mean, honestly, for me, it wasn’t existent until I was successful precocious school, but I ever loved nan crippled of basketball. I ever put nan activity in. I ever wanted to beryllium nan champion that I could be."

The Dallas Mavericks are expected to draught Flagg aft winning nan first prime successful nan 2025 NBA Draft Lottery. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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