LAS VEGAS — Cooper Flagg is leaving Las Vegas because the speak of the now-concluded Crew USA coaching camp.
Flagg, 17, an incoming freshman at Duke and an early favourite because the No. 1 decide of the 2025 NBA Draft, shouldn’t be on the workforce headed for Paris and a doable fifth Olympic gold medal. However he was the most effective participant on the choose workforce and some of the constant gamers on the court docket throughout three scrimmages over the past three days in opposition to the nationwide workforce of stars.
“Cooper Flagg was unbelievable,” stated Jim Boylen, assistant coach for each the choose workforce and the Indiana Pacers. “He’s not scared.”
Cooper Flagg recovers for the slam 💪
Choose Crew vs. Nationwide Crew Scrimmage 🍿 pic.twitter.com/IXbb9vDrgK
— NBA Future Begins Now (@nbafuturenow) July 7, 2024
“He confirmed no concern,” added Jalen Duren, heart for the Detroit Pistons and the choose workforce. “He got here and labored arduous daily. You’ll assume he’s already right here, you understand what I imply?”
“Coop was taking part in out of his thoughts,” added Jaime Jaquez Jr., a choose workforce participant who additionally performs for the Miami Warmth.
“He desires it, you see how unhealthy he desires it,” stated Devin Booker, of the U.S. nationwide workforce.
That was only a sampling.
A remaining factors tally for Flagg was not instantly obtainable, however U.S. coaches and executives estimated Flagg scored between 14 and 17 factors in a slender 74-73 loss to Crew USA on Monday. And within the portion of the scrimmage open to the media, Flagg drained a nook 3 after which executed an audacious putback over the American protection to place the choose workforce forward, 69-68, with lower than 2 minutes left. Flagg missed the following free throw.
Crew USA gained because of consecutive 3s by Booker after which Jrue Vacation (who was tasked with guarding Flagg — a praise to the Duke freshman as a result of Vacation is without doubt one of the finest defenders within the NBA). Anthony Davis swatted away Brandin Podziemski’s potential game-winning shot on the buzzer.
Considered one of Flagg’s 3s got here in opposition to Davis, which Jaquez stated was retribution from a block Davis registered on Flagg in Sunday’s scrimmage.
“He obtained blocked yesterday, and at the moment he got here proper again and hit it in his face,” Jaquez stated. “Proper after that he obtained the and-1 putback, so these few performs, and he obtained a steal in there. He was unimaginable at the moment.”
Cooper Flagg pulls up from 3 with confidence vs. #USABMNT! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Ub9vMo6Eit
— NBA Future Begins Now (@nbafuturenow) July 8, 2024
Flagg, a 6-foot-9 ahead, is the primary faculty participant to take part in a Crew USA coaching camp since Marcus Sensible and Doug McDermott in 2013. He’s not the primary choose workforce participant to disrupt a USA coaching camp by shining as brightly because the workforce of stars. As an example, final 12 months Cade Cunningham drew related critiques.
However Cunningham had already been within the NBA for 2 seasons, and a part of why his choose workforce stint drew such reward was as a result of he was coming off a knee damage that had value him most of his second 12 months in Detroit.
Flagg is, nicely, not sufficiently old to vote. However his competitiveness belies his youth.
“I simply assume that he’s obtained a aggressive fireplace, and he’s not afraid of anybody and he’s gonna go at you,” stated Trayce Jackson-Davis, the 24-year-old Golden State Warriors large man who’s coming off of his rookie season. “You want that as a participant. And while you’re already like that, and also you’re 17, the sky’s the restrict.”
The choose workforce was dismissed after Monday’s observe, because the nationwide workforce could have a walk-through on Tuesday and play Canada in an exhibition sport on Wednesday night time in Las Vegas earlier than flying to Abu Dhabi. Duke coach Jon Scheyer and two of his assistants have been in Las Vegas to observe Flagg, as have been Flagg’s mother and father.
Flagg was a member of the USA under-17 workforce that gained gold on the World Cup in 2022, and this previous season was each the Gatorade and the Naismith Boys’ Nationwide Participant of the Yr in highschool, out of Montverde Academy in Florida.
All are lofty accolades, however not fairly the identical as holding his personal in opposition to NBA champions, Olympic gold medalists and all-time main scorers.
“As soon as the ball goes up, I’m simply making an attempt to win always,” Flagg stated, explaining why he was not awe-struck by his environment in Las Vegas regardless of his age. “I’m only a competitor, and that’s what it boils all the way down to. It’s just a little little bit of an adjustment, being on the court docket with them, however on the identical time I’m simply taking part in basketball and making an attempt to be taught.”
Cooper Flagg sinks the beautiful turnaround jumper!
Choose Crew vs. Nationwide Crew Scrimmage 🍿 pic.twitter.com/TF3DX9VLa1
— NBA Future Begins Now (@nbafuturenow) July 8, 2024
In quite a few interviews, USA employees and choose workforce gamers gushed over Flagg’s expertise and dimension. But additionally his psychological capability.
“He’s obtained that confidence about himself that he’s not afraid of moments, and I feel that’s actually large for younger youngsters, particularly somebody his age,” stated choose workforce coach Jamahl Mosley, additionally the coach of the Orlando Magic.
Langston Galloway, a former NBA participant and longtime USA Basketball participant who serves as a observe participant for the nationwide workforce, turned an prompt fan of Flagg’s sport.
“I’m not even impressed concerning the scoring and all that; I’m extra impressed about his poise,” Galloway stated. “He’s not on the market making an attempt to pressure it like, ‘It’s my flip now. Let me attempt to get a shot up.’ He’s making an attempt to make performs. You possibly can see he clearly understands the sport. Get within the paint, everyone collapses, making the appropriate reads. In order that’s probably the most spectacular a part of it, for a 17-year-old to have the ability to perceive the sport.”
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Boylen, a former head coach within the NBA and in addition a previous coach of USA groups that certified the nation for the 2023 World Cup, stated Flagg will make a superb participant on the worldwide stage. After this summer season, the boys’s nationwide workforce gained’t be in motion once more till the 2027 World Cup in Qatar and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
By the point the following Olympics roll round, Flagg will possible have three years of NBA service beneath his belt.
“He has versatility, he has place dimension, he’s a sensible participant and he embraces contact,” Boylen stated.
Flagg confirmed he’s curious about a World Cup look in three years if his sport continues to develop.
“That’s one thing I’m striving for, simply making an attempt to be the most effective I can and, if I can obtain that after which be part of the World Cup workforce in two years, I imply, that’s one other aim on my record,” Flagg stated. “I’m simply working and making an attempt to get higher daily.”
LeBron x Cooper Flagg 🤝
Choose Crew vs. Nationwide Crew #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/OoYRIKQdtt
— NBA (@NBA) July 7, 2024
Galloway left the Flagg expertise understanding why consultants say Flagg will go first within the subsequent NBA Draft.
“I feel at the moment was a solidifier (displaying) the place he’ll be at subsequent 12 months,” Galloway stated. “This 12 months, clearly, he’ll be at Duke. However subsequent 12 months, you see the place he’ll be at.”
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(Photograph of LeBron James and Cooper Flagg: Ethan Miller / Getty Photographs)