18-year-old sensation Cooper Flagg is almost a sure bet to be drafted number one to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The freshman out of Duke had one of the most dominant college seasons of the past decade for the Blue Devils, winning National Player of the Year and leading his team to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.
Flagg is the draft’s biggest talent and is projected to become a top-five player in the league, competing on the biggest stage against the most prominent stars the NBA has to offer.
In a recent interview with ESPN, he revealed who he is most excited to face off against once he gets to the league.
Cooper Flagg can’t wait to face his college teammate, Khaman Maluach
Flagg will be suiting up against the biggest superstars in world basketball, including the likes of LeBron James, Steph Curry and Giannis Antetokounmpo, some of the best NBA players of all time.
But Flagg, who has experience playing with NBA superstars after his time competing against Team USA before the Olympics last summer, is not fazed by any of the big names ahead of his introduction to the league.
Instead, when asked by ESPN’s Malika Andrews who he is looking forward to playing against in the NBA, he mentioned his college teammate from Duke, Khaman Maluach.
“As far as someone that I’m excited to play, my brother from Duke, Khaman,” said Flagg. “I think it will be so surreal. He’s a great kid and I love him to death, so it will be really cool to play against him.”
Maluach is a projected lottery pick and one of three Blue Devils projected to be drafted in the first round.
At 7 feet tall with a 7’6” wingspan, he’s huge – a dominant presence at the rim and a challenge for any player driving to the hoop.
Seeing Flagg and Maluach clash in the paint is a tantalising prospect, and Flagg sounds eager for the challenge.
Flagg was left ‘shell-shocked’ by Team USA
Flagg also reflected on his time spent with Team USA prior to the Olympics and how he felt initially overwhelmed by sharing the court with all-time greats.
As a high school talent, he was selected to the prestigious USA Men’s Junior National Select Team to scrimmage against the USA Men’s National Team in preparation for the Olympics.
“That was one of the only times I’ve walked into a gym and felt shellshocked,” admitted Flagg.
“It was Hall of Fame guy after Hall of Fame guy. It was crazy. I remember the first possession I checked into the game, I was guarding LeBron, so that was a shell-shocked moment.”
But despite the initial shock, stepping onto the court with the NBA All-Time greats gave Flagg a boost of confidence, and a feeling that he belonged on the hardwood with that calibre of player.
“Getting on the court showed me that it’s just basketball. You trust your work and the hours you’ve put into the game, and you’re able to perform.”
Now, Flagg can lean on that experience in the NBA, as he prepares to suit up in his rookie season following the NBA Draft.