Flagg, 17, an incoming freshman at Duke and an early favourite because the No. 1 choose of the 2025 NBA Draft, will not be on the crew headed for Paris and a potential fifth Olympic gold medal. But he was the very best participant on the choose crew and some of the constant gamers on the court docket throughout three scrimmages over the past three days in opposition to the nationwide crew of stars.
“Cooper Flagg was unbelievable,” stated Jim Boylen, assistant coach for each the choose crew and the Indiana Pacers. “He’s not scared.”
Cooper Flagg recovers for the slam 💪
Select Team vs. National Team Scrimmage 🍿 pic.twitter.com/IXbb9vDrgK
— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) July 7, 2024
“He confirmed no concern,” stated Jalen Duren, middle for the Detroit Pistons and the choose crew. “He got here and labored arduous every single day. You would suppose he’s already right here, what I imply?”
Added Jaime Jaquez Jr., a choose crew participant who additionally performs for the Miami Heat: “Coop was taking part in out of his thoughts.”
“He needs it, you see how unhealthy he needs it,” stated Devin Booker of the U.S. nationwide crew.
That was only a sampling.
A closing factors tally for Flagg was not instantly out there, however U.S. coaches and executives estimated Flagg scored between 14 and 17 factors in a slim 74-73 loss to Team USA on Monday. And within the portion of the scrimmage open to the media, Flagg drained a nook 3 after which executed an audacious putback over the American protection to place the choose crew forward 69-68 with lower than 2 minutes left. Flagg missed the following free throw.
Team USA gained because of consecutive 3s by Booker after which Jrue Holiday (who was tasked with guarding Flagg — a praise to the Duke freshman as a result of Holiday is among the finest defenders within the NBA). Anthony Davis swatted away Brandin Podziemski’s potential game-winning shot on the buzzer.
One of Flagg’s 3s got here in opposition to Davis, which Jaquez stated was retribution from a block Davis registered on Flagg in Sunday’s scrimmage.
“Today, he got here proper again and hit it in his face,” Jaquez stated. “Right after that he received the and-1 putback, so these few performs, and he received a steal in there. He was unimaginable at present.”
Cooper Flagg pulls up from 3 with confidence vs. #USABMNT! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Ub9vMo6Eit
— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) July 8, 2024
Flagg, a 6-foot-9 ahead, is the primary faculty participant to take part in a Team USA coaching camp since Marcus Smart and Doug McDermott in 2013. He will not be the primary choose crew participant to disrupt a USA coaching camp by shining as brightly because the crew of stars. For occasion, final 12 months Cade Cunningham drew related evaluations.
But Cunningham had already been within the NBA for 2 seasons, and a part of why his choose crew stint drew such reward was as a result of he was coming off a knee damage that had value him most of his second season in Detroit.
Flagg is, effectively, not sufficiently old to vote. But his competitiveness belies his youth.
“I simply suppose that he’s received a aggressive fireplace, and he’s not afraid of anybody and he’s gonna go at you,” stated Trayce Jackson-Davis, the 24-year-old Golden State Warriors massive man who’s coming off of his rookie season. “You want that as a participant. And if you’re already like that, and also you’re 17, the sky’s the restrict.”
The choose crew was dismissed after Monday’s observe, because the nationwide crew may have a walk-through on Tuesday and play Canada in an exhibition sport on Wednesday night time in Las Vegas earlier than flying to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Duke coach Jon Scheyer and two of his assistants had been in Las Vegas to observe Flagg, as had been Flagg’s mother and father.
Flagg was a member of the USA under-17 crew that gained gold on the World Cup in 2022. This previous season, as a senior at Montverde Academy in Florida, he was the Gatorade and the Naismith Boys’ National Player of the Year in highschool.
All are lofty accolades, however not fairly the identical as holding his personal in opposition to NBA champions, Olympic gold medalists and all-time main scorers.
“Once the ball goes up, I’m simply attempting to win always,” Flagg stated, explaining why he was not awestruck by his environment in Las Vegas regardless of his age. “I’m only a competitor, and that’s what it boils all the way down to. It’s a little bit little bit of an adjustment, being on the court docket with them, however on the similar time I’m simply taking part in basketball and attempting to study.”
Cooper Flagg sinks the gorgeous turnaround jumper!
Select Team vs. National Team Scrimmage 🍿 pic.twitter.com/TF3DX9VLa1
— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) July 8, 2024
In quite a few interviews, USA employees and choose crew gamers gushed over Flagg’s abilities and dimension. But additionally his psychological capability.
“He’s received that confidence about himself that he’s not afraid of moments, and I believe that’s massive for younger youngsters, particularly somebody his age,” stated choose crew and Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley.
Langston Galloway, a former NBA participant and longtime USA Basketball participant who serves as a observe participant for the nationwide crew, grew to become an on the spot fan of Flagg’s sport.
“I’m not even impressed in regards to the scoring and all that; I’m extra impressed about his poise,” Galloway stated. “He’s not on the market attempting to drive it like, ‘It’s my flip now. Let me attempt to get a shot up.’ He’s attempting to make performs. You can see he understands the sport. Get within the paint, everyone collapses, making the precise reads. So that’s essentially the most spectacular a part of it, for a 17-year-old to have the ability to perceive the sport.”
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Boylen, a former head coach within the NBA and in addition a previous coach of USA groups, stated Flagg would make a superb participant on the worldwide stage. After this summer season, the boys’s nationwide crew gained’t be in motion once more till the 2027 World Cup in Qatar and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
By the time the subsequent Olympics roll round, Flagg will seemingly have three years of NBA service below his belt.
“He has versatility, he has place dimension, he’s a wise participant and he embraces contact,” Boylen stated.
Flagg confirmed he’s focused on a World Cup look in three years if his sport continues to develop.
“That’s one thing I’m striving for, simply attempting to be the very best I can and, if I can obtain that after which be part of the World Cup crew in two years, I imply, that’s one other purpose on my checklist,” Flagg stated. “I’m simply working and attempting to get higher every single day.”
LeBron x Cooper Flagg 🤝
Select Team vs. National Team #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/OoYRIKQdtt
— NBA (@NBA) July 7, 2024
Galloway left the Flagg expertise understanding why consultants say Flagg will go first within the subsequent NBA Draft.
“I believe at present was a solidifier (exhibiting) the place he’ll be at subsequent 12 months,” Galloway stated. “This 12 months he’ll be at Duke. But subsequent 12 months, you see the place he’ll be at.”
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(Photo of LeBron James and Cooper Flagg: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
