Last Updated on July 19, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Cooper Flagg entered the NBA carrying enormous expectations after establishing himself as one of the most highly regarded prospects of his generation, thanks to his rare combination of size, skill, defensive instincts, and competitive fire. Equally capable of impacting the game as a scorer, playmaker, or shot-blocker, he has the tools to become a franchise cornerstone and one of basketball’s defining young stars.
Here’s a detailed profile of basketballer Cooper Flagg:
- Full Name: Cooper Flagg
- Nickname: The Maine Event
- Nationality: American
- Age: Born on December 21, 2006
- Hometown: Newport, Maine, USA
- Height: 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters)
- Weight: 200 pounds (91 kg)
- Wingspan: 7 feet 0 inches (2.13 meters)
- Shoe Size: 14 (US)
- Shoe Brand: Nike Sabrina 1
- Number: 32
- Position: Small Forward / Power Forward
- High School:
- Nokomis Regional High School (Newport, Maine)
- Montverde Academy (Montverde, Florida)
- College: Duke University (2024–2025) – Duke Blue Devils
- NBA Draft: Not yet eligible (expected to be a top prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft)
- Teams Played For: High school teams (Nokomis Regional High and Montverde Academy), USA Basketball U17 Team
- Championship Rings: None (as of 2024, high school and youth level competitions only)
- Kids: None (as of 2024)
- Siblings: 1 brother (Ace Flagg, who is also a basketball player)
Scouting Report
The first thing you notice about Cooper Flagg is that he sees the game one step ahead. He doesn’t chase highlights; he anticipates where the possession is about to go, whether that’s cutting into an open lane before the help arrives or rotating from the weak side early enough to erase a layup without leaving his own assignment exposed for long. Offensively, he’s comfortable initiating from the perimeter, but he rarely overdribbles. He’ll use a ball screen to force two defenders toward him, make the simple pass if it’s there, or attack the gap himself with long, controlled strides that create angles more than raw separation. As a cutter, he’s constantly relocating behind the defense, and when he catches on the move he finishes with either hand or immediately keeps the ball moving rather than stalling the possession. Defensively, that’s where his feel becomes especially apparent. He can switch across multiple positions, peel off to protect the rim, recover to shooters under control and make life difficult for ball handlers simply by shrinking the space they think they have. The trade-off is that physical defenders capable of absorbing his drives can coax him into settling for contested jumpers, and there are moments when trusting his own scoring a little sooner would be preferable to making one extra pass. Even so, his game fits almost anywhere because he doesn’t need constant touches to influence winning possessions. Put him alongside creators who force defensive rotations and his cutting, connective passing and defensive versatility become even more valuable. To me, there are shades of Andrei Kirilenko in the way he fills every corner of the floor defensively, while his offensive rhythm and all-around feel also bring to mind a bigger version of Gordon Hayward.
Notes:
- Cooper Flagg is 6’8″ (203 cm) without shoes. With shoes, he’s typically listed at 6’9″ (206 cm).
- Cooper Flagg’s playing weight is approximately 200 pounds (91 kg).
- Similar players to Cooper Flagg include Franz Wagner and Gordon Hayward.
- Cooper Flagg has worn a Nike Sabrina 1 Duke Player Edition shoe while playing for the Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball team.
- On August 20, 2024, Cooper Flagg signed a shoe deal with New Balance. Flagg is expected to be the first pick in the 2025 draft and has received high praise from Kevin Durant and other NBA stars while practicing against the Team USA team that went to and won the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Player Insights
It’s no secret that lottery teams are usually trying to tank to improve their chances of landing higher draft picks. But I’ve never seen it as obvious as it has been this season during the 2024-25 NBA Season. We’ve seen the 76ers pull their entire starting lineup, Walker Kessler turn into a three-point shooting machine even though hardly any go-in, and more rest days and “injuries” for starters than we’ve ever seen before. Adam Silver will need to implement a solution to the tanking because it’s hurting the game’s popularity, but for now the most noteworthy thing about it is how badly teams want Cooper Flagg. If you just look at how hard teams are trying to tank to get him, it gives you an idea of how good they expect Flagg to be as an NBA player. He could be very special. When I watch him at Duke, he’s very dominant on the court at the collegiate level. One of his best features is his motor: he plays hard and playing hard is his default setting on the court, which is indicative of a player who loves basketball and can’t help but be competitive. The combination of Flagg’s well-balanced body, good athleticism, minimal injury history, love for the game, height, ability to shoot from long range, and basketball IQ means that his ceiling is as high as we’ve seen for any white player to date. He has a ceiling higher than Luka Doncic if he can stay healthy and rely on the quickness that derives from his athleticism, which can be even more effective than a finesse player who relies on skills to get baskets such as Doncic. 4/3/2025
I expect Cooper Flagg to be the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but there are several future stars in the 2025 NBA Draft, so even if he isn’t drafted first, I’ll still be watching him just as closely. One of my favorite players under 25 today is Franz Wagner. Flagg could be a better version of Wagner after he develops. What I like best about Wagner and Flagg is that they love basketball. Love for the game is the best foundation for every player. 1/1/2025