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In the middle of falling TV rates, the NBA welcomed its newest young superstar to the league on Wednesday night when Cooper Flagg was drafted with the overall overall choice of Dalla’s Mavericks out of Duke.
As one of the most hyped views in the latest NBA history, many experts are sacked 6-foot-9 Maine-native as potentially the next face in the league.
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Here’s everything to know about flagg that has already made a remarkable story before he even stepped on an NBA Court:
Flagg is the first white American gathering # 1 in nearly 50 years of age, which gets controversial media uprising on race
The last time a white American-born player like Flagg was the first election in the NBA draft was Kent Benson in 1977. Since then, every first overall election has been either a minority, foreign-born or both.
ESPN star Stephen A. Smith made a comment on Flagg’s skin color during a TV discussion about the network of co-host Jay Williams in March while discussing the turnover of the phenomenon in the NBA.
Cooper Flagg, right, shaking his hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected first assembled by Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the NBA Basketball Draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
“Think about all the conversations we have, whether players like it or not, I hate it, but it’s a real thing about who will be the league on the league?” Asked Williams.
“Cooper flagg now. There are pictures of him in college basketball with his face and the American flag behind it. Think of everything that is happening in our country right now. About what it means to be America. ‘America first.’ Okay?
Smith interacted and said, “I love what you brought up. Cooper flagg, the American flag, and let’s call it what it is, white. We see some of these European brothers, but again European is not American. When you look at it from this point of view, marketability.”
Smith followed up on the topic of similar comments in May during an episode of ESPN’s “First Take.”
“When you have someone with that kind of potential and they are white and you are in America you are holding that guy. I’ll tell you right now,” Smith said. “The first rules of procedure is that he can ball. It is because he can play, but the fact that he is white, marketable – even his name makes him more marketable. I do not pass it on at all.”
Meanwhile, the British newspaper “The Guardian” a feature in December entitled “Cooper Flagg: The 17-year-old ‘Cold-A-White Boy’, who broke the basketball discourse.” The article referred to flags as “the next big white hope, Caitlin Clark 2.0.”
The article was strongly criticized for having such a focus on Flagg’s race.
Flagg’s draft from Mavericks is the subject of widespread conspiracy theories
Mavericks ended up with the first election of this year, despite having only 1.8% chance-the 11th best odds in the league to land the election in the draft lottery after completing the season with a 39-43 record.
Mavericks ‘miraculous lottery results came months after the organization made a questionable trade to send superstar Luka Doncic to LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers in return for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 choice of the first round, which many experts considered well-loaded value for Doncic.
This series of events led many fans and teachers to speculate on potential conspiracy theories about how and why Dallas got the choice despite having such a low odds for it.
Michael Jordan to join NBC as ‘Special Contributor’ to NBA coverage
June 25, 2025; Brooklyn, Ny, USA; Cooper Flagg arrives before the first round of 2025 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. (Brad Penner-Preferred Pictures)
During Wednesday’s draft at the Barclay Center in New York City was a fan present, “Dallas was rigged”, which was caught on the ESPN broadcast.
Flagg was even asked about these theories during a press conference Wednesday night after being a draft.
“I don’t know what to say about it. I have no insider information if that’s what you’re looking for. But I just feel blessed for the way it all worked.”
Flagg is native in Maine and was told he would never get to division in, so much less NBA
Flagg was born in Newport, Maine – a state that does not have the glitziest history of producing basketball talent.
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.
Miami Heat player Duncan Robinson was born in Maine, but he grew up in New Hampshire and went extracted in 2018 draft.
Flagg said told Associated Press In May, he was told he was given his background when a Mainer got many to tell him he would “never” play division in basketball.
Duke Blue Devils Forward Cooper Flagg (2) goes to the bench during the first half against North Carolina Tar Heels in the Spectrum Center. (Jim Dedmon-Preferred Pictures)
“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.”
Flagg did not let the skepticism influence his ambitions.
“It doesn’t matter where you are from,” Flagg said 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.”
Instead of an obstacle, Flagg’s home state has given him a unique nickname: “Maine’s event.”
Flagg has adapted to an underhound in NBA’s sneaker war
While most NBA stars have clothing deals with Nike or Under Armor, Flagg has taken another flag in the retail wars.
Flagg is signed with New Balance, which is based in his home state’s neighbor to Massachusetts. Other NBA stars signed with this brand include Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray, Tyresis Maxey, Dejointe Murray, Zach Lavine, Darius Garland and Aaron Nesmit.
But now Flagg may prove to be the brand’s biggest ambassador yet, as the company seems to take on market leaders Nike and Under Armor.
“I’m so proud to call Maine my home state and I’m grateful for all the support I received,” Flagg said in a press release sent to Pakinomist Digital. “Thanks to Governor Mills and New Balance to help strengthen my belief in the value of teamwork and that if you stick to something and continue to work, you can make something happen.”
Nike has been strongly criticized over the last year of women’s sports rights activists for its Official business attitude By supporting trans athletes in the sports of women and girls.
