LAS VEGAS — Cooper Flagg’s impending departure from Las Vegas was a hot topic at Team USA’s now-concluded training camp.
Flagg, 17, a freshman at Duke and the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, is not on the team headed to Paris for a possible fifth Olympic gold medal. But he was the best player on the selected team and one of the most consistent midfielders in the three scrimmages over the past three days against the Nats’ stars.
“Cooper Flagg’s performance was unbelievable,” said Jim Boylen, an assistant coach on the roster and the Indiana Pacers. “He wasn’t afraid.”
Cooper Flagg returns to Grand Slam 💪
Select Team vs. National Team Scrimmage🍿 pic.twitter.com/IXbb9vDrgK
— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) July 7, 2024
“He didn’t show fear,” said Detroit Pistons and center Jalen Duren, who was drafted to the team. “He comes in and works hard every day. You’d think he’d be here already, you know what I mean?
Added select player Jaime Jaquez Jr., who plays for the Miami Heat: “Kop is playing like crazy.”
“He wants it, you see how much he wants it,” Team USA’s Devin Booker said.
That’s just a sample.
Flagg’s final scoring tally was not immediately available, but Team USA coaches and executives estimated Flagg scored 14 to 17 points in Monday’s narrow 74-73 victory over the United States. During the scrimmage portion open to the media, Flagg drained a corner 3-pointer and then made a bold comeback against the U.S. defense to put his team up 69-68 with less than 2 minutes left. lead. Flagg then missed a free throw.
The Americans won on back-to-back 3-pointers from Booker and Jrue Holiday (who was tasked with guarding Flagg – a compliment to the Duke freshman, as Holiday was One of the best defenders in the NBA). Anthony Davis saved Brandin Bodemski’s buzzer-beater.
One of Flagg’s 3-pointers came from Davis, which Jaquez said was retaliation for Davis’ block on Flagg during Sunday’s scrimmage.
“Today, he came back and it hit him in the face,” Jaquez said. “He got an and-1 after that, so those few games, he was out there getting steals. What he did today was unbelievable.
Cooper Flagg confidently pulled from 3 against his opponent. #USABMNT! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Ub9vMo6Eit
— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) July 8, 2024
Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward, is the first college player to participate in Team USA training camp since Marcus Smart and Doug McDermott in 2013. Excellent and disruptive select players from Team USA training camp as star team. Cade Cunningham, for example, received similar reviews last year.
But Cunningham has been in the NBA for two seasons, and part of the reason his franchise career has been so lauded is because he’s coming off a knee injury that cost him his second season in Detroit. most of the time.
Flagg is not old enough to vote. But his competitiveness belies his youth.
“I just think he’s competitive, he’s not afraid of anybody, he’s going to attack you,” said 24-year-old Golden State Warriors big man Trayce Jackson-Davis, who is wrapping up his rookie season. said. “As a player you need that. When you’re like that and you’re 17, the sky’s the limit.
The select team disbanded after Monday’s practice as the national team will preview on Tuesday and play an exhibition game against Canada in Las Vegas on Wednesday night before flying to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Duke coach Jon Scheyer and two of his assistants were in Las Vegas to watch Flagg play, as were Flagg’s parents.
Flagg was a member of the U.S. under-17 team that won a gold medal at the 2022 World Cup. Player Award.
All of those are high honors, but not quite the same as him holding his own against an NBA champion, Olympic gold medalist and all-time scoring leader.
“Once the ball goes up, I always want to win,” Flagg said, explaining why despite his age, he’s not in awe of the Las Vegas environment. “I’m just a competitor, that’s what it comes down to. Being on the court with them, it takes a little adjustment, but at the same time I’m just playing basketball and studying hard.
Cooper Flagg’s beautiful turnaround jumper!
Select Team vs. National Team Scrimmage🍿 pic.twitter.com/TF3DX9VLa1
— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) July 8, 2024
In multiple interviews, Team USA staff and select players raved about Flagg’s skills and size. And his mental endurance.
“He’s confident in himself and not afraid of any moment, which I think is important for a young kid, especially his age,” Select Team and Orlando Magic coach Jamal Mosley said.
Langston Galloway, a former NBA player and longtime USA Basketball player who serves as a practice player for the national team, immediately became a fan of Flagg’s game.
“I wasn’t even impressed with the scoring or anything like that; I was more impressed with his composure,” Galloway said. “He’s not trying to force it, like, ‘It’s my turn now. Let me try to take a shot.’ He’s trying to make a play. You can tell he understands the game. Getting into the paint, everybody’s falling apart, doing So for a 17-year-old to understand the game, that’s the most impressive part.
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Boylen, a former NBA head coach and former coach of the US team, said Flagg will become an outstanding player on the international stage. After this summer, the men’s national football team will not compete again until the 2027 World Cup in Qatar and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
By the time the next Olympics roll around, Flagg will likely have three years in the NBA.
“He’s versatile, he’s positional, he’s a smart player, and he loves contact,” Boylen said.
Flagg confirmed he would be interested in competing in a World Cup within three years if his game continues to improve.
“That’s what I’m working towards, just trying my best, and if I can achieve that and then be on the World Cup team in two years, I mean, that’s another goal on my list,” Fraula said. Ge said. “I’m just working and trying to get better every day.”
LeBron x Cooper Flag 🤝
Select Team vs. National Team #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/OoYRIKQdtt
— NBA (@NBA) July 7, 2024
Galloway’s experience moving away from Flagg makes him understand why experts say Flagg will be the No. 1 pick in the next NBA draft.
“I think today was a solidifier of what he’s going to do next year,” Galloway said. “This year he’ll be at Duke. But next year, you’ll see where he is.
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(Photo of LeBron James and Cooper Flagg: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
