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Cooper Flagg is one of the most hyped views in the latest NBA story, but he says the hype wasn’t always there.
Dukefenom and projected # 1 pickup in the upcoming NBA draft told Associated Press that he grew up that he would never achieve his basketball goals.
Flagg said the doubt was due to where he was from.
“Growing up in Maine, there are people who told me that I would never be able to reach it to the next level or play division in basketball because I’m from Maine and no one plays up there,” Flagg said. “I think that just the message of it doesn’t matter where you are from as long as you work hard and trust yourself and trust your ability, then you can really accomplish something.”
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Duke’s Cooper Flagg dries his face during a news conference after Duke lost to Houston in the National Semi -final April 5, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Very few basketball stars have come from Maine. Miami Heat player Duncan Robinson was born in Maine, but he grew up in New Hampshire and went extracted in 2018 draft.
The most prominent player who came out of Maine was the former Olympic gold medal Jeff Turner, who played for Vanderbilt in the early 1980s and played in the NBA from 1984-96. But he was out of the NBA from 1986-89 while playing in Italy.
Flagg is expected to be the most talented basketball player coming out of the state in its history.
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Duke’s Cooper Flagg responds to the bench after accidentally hit the face during the first half of a game against Florida State in Durham, NC, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
Flagg led Duke this season in almost any statistical category, including points (709), rebounds (278), assists (155), stealing (52) and blocks per day. Battle (1.4). He average 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.4 stealing, but his best view was in January when he set an ACC NYBRANDER record with a 42-point performance against Notre Dame.
Flagg closed the year with a semi -final performance in the NCAA tournament and was named the winner of the award for the Naismith Player of the Year of 2025 and became just the fourth beginner to win this honor.
Duke Blue Devils Guard Cooper Flagg before a game against Syracuse Orange at Jma Wireless Dome. (IMagn)
“It doesn’t matter where you come from,” Flagg said Wednesday at the draft combine harvesters. “If you have a goal if you have a dream and you put your mind to it … I mean, honestly, for me, it wasn’t right until I was in high school, but I always loved the game Basketball. I always put the work in. I’ve always wanted to be the best I could be.”
Dallas Mavericks is expected to draft flagg after winning the first election of 2025 NBA Draft Lottery.
