Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg says he knew he was ready for the NBA even before playing his lone college season at Duke, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
Flagg spoke with MacMahon about joining the USA Basketball Select Team in July 2024 for a scrimmage against a star-studded Olympic men’s basketball team as part of the lead-up to the 2024 Paris Games.
The 17-year-old was the first college player to receive the Select Team invite since Doug McDermott and Marcus Smart in 2013. Both McDermott and Smart had college playing experience at the time, however, whereas Flagg was joining the program straight out of high school.
But Flagg told MacMahon he didn’t feel out of place as the youngest player on a roster stacked with up-and-coming NBA stars.
“I don’t know if it was about proving anything to myself or just feeling comfortable and getting confidence from that experience,” Flagg told MacMahon. “I definitely just had that feeling that I knew I belonged. I knew I could be out there.”
Flagg ultimately held his own during the Select Team’s 74-73 loss to the Olympians in a performance highlighted by him guarding LeBron James and hitting a three-pointer over Anthony Davis.
After averaging 25 points and 9.8 rebounds per game during his freshman season at Duke and going to the Mavericks with the top pick of the 2025 draft, Flagg will finally get the chance to prove he belongs in the NBA.
Flagg’s highly-anticipated rookie season begins next Wednesday night at 9:30 p.m. ET, when the Mavs tip off the 2025-26 regular campaign with a home game against Victor Wembanyama and the visiting San Antonio Spurs.
