Cooper Flagg Bio
Cooper Flagg is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A versatile forward, he plays primarily as a small forward and has quickly become one of the league’s most talked-about young stars. Flagg was selected with the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft and went on to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2026. Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall, he is widely regarded as one of the most promising American basketball talents of his generation.
Before turning professional, Flagg starred at Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, and at Duke University, where he earned consensus national player of the year honors as a freshman. His combination of size, skill, and basketball IQ has drawn frequent comparisons to some of the NBA’s all-time greats, and his early professional resume already includes record-breaking scoring performances.
Early Life and Background
Cooper Flagg was born on December 21, 2006, in Newport, Maine. He grew up in a basketball family and developed his love for the game at an early age. Flagg first attended Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, where he made an immediate impact. As a freshman, he became the first freshman ever named the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year, averaging 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3.7 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game.
During his freshman season, Flagg helped Nokomis win the Class A state championship, scoring 22 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in a 43–27 win against Falmouth High School in the state final. That summer, he transferred to Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, one of the premier basketball programs in the country. The decision to relocate with his family was driven by his pursuit of elite-level competition and exposure.
Path to Basketball
Flagg’s development accelerated rapidly at Montverde Academy, where he joined one of the most respected high school basketball programs in the United States. In his first season, he was named MVP of the 2023 Hoophall Classic after scoring 21 points with five steals, five rebounds, and three assists in an 85–63 victory over La Lumiere Academy. He also earned recognition as a semifinalist for the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award.
Following his sophomore year, Flagg reclassified into the recruiting class of 2024 and finished as the highest-rated recruit in the country. He led Montverde to a perfect 34–0 record and the program’s eighth national title, averaging 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.7 blocks per game as a senior. He was selected to the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game, was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year, and earned Mr. Basketball USA and Naismith Prep Player of the Year honors.
Cooper Flagg Career
Early Career (2022–2024)
Flagg’s national profile began to take shape in 2022 when he represented the United States at the FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup in Spain. He was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 9.3 points, 10 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, and 2.4 steals per game, helping the United States win the gold medal. For his performance, he was named the 2022 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year, becoming the youngest player ever to receive the honor.
Between his high school seasons, Flagg also competed in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League for the Florida Eagles and Maine United. At the prestigious Peach Jam tournament, he averaged 25.4 points, 13 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 6.9 blocks in seven games, cementing his reputation as a dominant amateur talent. He was also named to the USA Select Team in 2024, practicing with the senior national team ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Duke University Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Flagg committed to Duke University in October 2023, choosing the Blue Devils over the University of Connecticut. He signed his National Letter of Intent during the early signing period and enrolled at Duke in June 2024. In his college debut against Maine on November 4, 2024, he scored 18 points with seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals in a 96–62 win. He earned ACC Rookie of the Week honors just two weeks later.
His most memorable performance came on January 11, 2025, when he scored 42 points with six rebounds and seven assists in a win over Notre Dame, setting new freshman scoring records for both Duke and the ACC. Flagg became the first ACC player in 25 years to record 500-plus points, 100-plus assists, and 30-plus blocks in a single regular season. He led Duke to a 19–1 conference record, an ACC regular-season title, and an ACC Tournament championship.
Entering the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the East region, Flagg helped Duke reach the Final Four, scoring 30 points in the Sweet 16 win over Arizona and 27 points in the Final Four loss to Houston. Following the season, he was named the ACC Player of the Year and ACC Rookie of the Year, joining Zion Williamson, Marvin Bagley III, and Jahlil Okafor as the only players in conference history to win both awards in the same year. He also swept the major national player of the year awards, including the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, and AP Player of the Year.
Dallas Mavericks Era (2025–Present)
Flagg declared for the 2025 NBA draft and was selected with the first overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks. He signed his rookie contract on July 2, 2025, and made his NBA debut on October 22, 2025, recording a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs. The Mavericks initially deployed him as a point guard and primary ball handler before shifting him back to his natural forward position.
His rookie season produced a series of historic milestones. On November 10, 2025, he tied LeBron James as the youngest player to score at least 25 points in an NBA game. The next night, he set the record for the youngest player to record 10 assists, and shortly after scored a career-high 35 points against the Los Angeles Clippers. On December 15, 2025, he scored 42 points against the Utah Jazz, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach the 40-point mark. By the end of the season, he had posted 49 points against the Charlotte Hornets, 51 points against the Orlando Magic, and 45 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, setting the all-time record for most points scored by a teenager in an NBA game.
On April 27, 2026, Flagg was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, edging out former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel. He became the second-youngest player to win the award, behind only LeBron James. He was later selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team on May 20, 2026, capping one of the most decorated rookie campaigns in league history.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cooper Flagg is known for his two-way versatility, combining elite shot-blocking and rebounding with skilled ball-handling and perimeter scoring. He excels in transition, reads the game with poise beyond his years, and has shown the ability to defend multiple positions. His basketball IQ and passing vision are rare for a player his size, and his relentless motor has quickly made him a centerpiece of the Mavericks’ rebuild.
Notable Events and Milestones
Flagg’s career is already defined by historic achievements, including becoming the youngest player to score 40, 49, and 50-plus points in an NBA game. He set the ACC and Duke freshman scoring records with 42 points against Notre Dame, won a gold medal with the United States at the 2022 FIBA Under-17 World Cup, and was named the 2022 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year, the youngest player ever to earn the honor.
Cooper Flagg Career Wins
Cooper Flagg has compiled an impressive list of victories across high school, college, international, and professional basketball. His gold medal at the 2022 FIBA Under-17 World Cup, Montverde Academy’s perfect 34–0 national championship season, Duke’s ACC Tournament title, and his 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year award mark a uniquely accomplished early career.
High School and Amateur Highlights
At Montverde Academy, Flagg helped the Eagles go 34–0 and win the program’s eighth national championship in 2024. Earlier, at Nokomis Regional High School, he led the team to a Class A state title and was the first freshman named Maine Gatorade Player of the Year. His MVP performance at the 2023 Hoophall Classic and his dominant showing at the 2022 FIBA Under-17 World Cup remain career-defining moments.
College and Professional Highlights
Flagg led Duke to a 19–1 ACC record and an ACC Tournament championship in 2025, while earning consensus national player of the year and first-team All-American honors. As a professional, he earned the 2026 NBA Rookie of the Year award and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while also setting the all-time record for most points scored by a teenager in a single NBA game.
Cooper Flagg Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Basketball runs deep in Cooper Flagg’s family. His mother, Kelly Flagg, played college basketball at the University of Maine and served as a team captain during her senior year. His father, Ralph Flagg, played NJCAA basketball at Eastern Maine Community College. Cooper’s older brother, Hunter Flagg, played basketball at Nokomis Regional High School, and his fraternal twin brother, Ace Flagg, was a teammate at both Nokomis and Montverde Academy before verbally committing to play at the University of Maine starting in 2025–26.
Personal Life
Cooper Flagg and his family relocated from Newport, Maine, to Florida after he and his twin brother transferred to Montverde Academy. Growing up in New England, he was a fan of the Boston Celtics. Off the court, Flagg signed a shoe deal with New Balance, citing the brand’s ties to his home state of Maine, and became the first men’s college basketball player to be sponsored by Gatorade.
2025 Season Performance
Cooper Flagg’s 2025 season was split between his historic freshman year at Duke and the beginning of his NBA career. At Duke, he averaged over 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game while leading the Blue Devils to the ACC regular-season title, an ACC Tournament championship, and a Final Four appearance. He swept every major national player of the year award and declared for the 2025 NBA draft immediately after the season.
Selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks, Flagg opened the 2025–26 NBA season in commanding fashion. He posted a double-double in his debut, tied LeBron James’s record as the youngest player to score 25 points, and set new records as the youngest to reach 40 and 50 points in a game. His scoring outbursts against the Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets, and Orlando Magic set new benchmarks for teenage performance in the NBA.
Flagg finished the season as a heavy favorite for Rookie of the Year honors and is widely viewed as the foundation of the Mavericks’ long-term plans. With his combination of size, skill, and maturity, the outlook for his 2026–27 campaign suggests continued growth as a leading star in the league.
