The face of an 18-year-old took over the TV.
The night before Cooper Flagg joined LeBron James and Victor Wembanyama in NBA history, a re-airing of ‘The Last Dance’ documentary on Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls‘ dynasty was paused for a commercial.
Cooper Flagg’s big NBA moment is finally heregettyFlagg was teased on television as the ‘future,’ and he was already the face of the 2025 NBA Draft.
“It’s such a surreal feeling to see where I came from and what I’ve been able to do,” Flagg told talkSPORT during a pre-draft media interview in Manhattan.
The 6ft 9in and 205lb Flagg is already being described as ‘positionless,’ which is the ultimate compliment in the modern NBA.
He can shoot, score, pass, leap, dunk, defend and dominate the hardwood.
He’s also a team-first player who grew up idolizing Larry Bird, and stunned NBA superstars during Team USA workouts before the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Reasonable expectations? I don’t know why you have to be reasonable,” ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas said.
“Why does the sky have to be the limit? There’s stuff beyond the sky.”
Lionel Messi lives there.
The World Cup winner made his pro debut at 17 with Barcelona, and now possesses a net worth approaching $1 billion.
James, The King of the NBA, was initially just a kid from Akron, Ohio.
LeBron James is already a big fan of FlaggGetty Lionel Messi has come a long way since his debut at 17Getty Images - Getty Victor Wembanyama is leading the NBA into a new eraGettyThen he became The Chosen One, debuting with his home-state Cleveland Cavaliers at 18-years-old in 2003.
More than 20 years later, James is the leading scorer in NBA history, has four championship rings, holds an estimated net worth of $1.2bn, and could become a team owner.
The King has already praised Flagg, before the former Duke Blue Devils star has even played a pro minute.
“I think he’s going to be amazing,” James said on his Mind the Game podcast.
Flagg was low key and accessible the day before his life changed forever.
He used to be a kid from Maine trying to convince doubters and critics that he had real basketball talent, while living in a state that doesn’t have an NBA team.
NBA's Greatest
Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama
Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone
10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus
Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals
The second that Flagg was attached to the Dallas Mavericks‘ No. 1 overall pick via the luck of the NBA Draft lottery, he became an 18-year-old who was the perfect answer to the fan fury simmering from the Luka Doncic trade, and an ideal new teammate of All-NBA selections Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving.
An extra $1bn in franchise value was also linked to the Mavs, if Flagg lived up to his team-changing talent.
What would a young Flagg had thought about everything he’s on the verge of now?
“I don’t know what he would say,” Flagg told talkSPORT.
“I don’t know if he would believe it. I don’t know if he would think I was lying.
“I mean it’s just so crazy. It all happened so fast. It never really became real for me until two years ago when I got to Montverde. That’s when it really started to become a real thing for me.”
On His Way
Cooper Flagg biography
Age: 18
Born: Newport, Maine
High School: Montverde Academy
College: Duke
Stats: 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists
NBA comparison: Scottie Pippen, Andrei Kirilenko, Larry Bird
Victor Wembanyama was hyped by James as an ‘alien’ before the 7ft 3in forward/center from France became a No. 1 pick, then debuted at 19 with the San Antonio Spurs.
Wemby unanimously won NBA Rookie of the Year in 2023-24, and spent his follow-up season redefining the limits of the court.
Kylian Mbappe made his pro debut at 16.
Now, the Real Madrid superstar is one of the biggest sporting names in the world, and the owner of a World Cup Final hat trick.
Flagg appears to have the humility and inner drive necessary to balance everything that will soon be at his fingertips.
If the 18-year-old from Maine becomes the next great NBA star, the millions — and billions — will take care of themselves.
“He understands he’s only 18-years-old,” Bilas said.
“But the way he performed with the USA Select Team against the Olympic team last summer, it was pretty impressive. All the NBA players came away going, ‘Oh, this guy’s real good.’ So he’s got credibility right away.”
The first round of the NBA Draft is Wednesday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( ‘It happened so fast’ – Cooper Flagg can give NBA $1bn bounce as 18-year-old star follows LeBron, Wemby and Messi )
Also on site :