Cooper Flagg

Cooper Flagg, born December 21, 2006, in Newport, Maine, is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks. A versatile forward, he was the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft and went on to win Rookie of the Year that same season. Flagg's journey to the NBA began at Nokomis Regional High School in his hometown before he transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, where he earned multiple national high school player of the year honors as a senior. Ranked the top recruit in the 2024 class, he played one season at Duke University, earning consensus first-team All-American and national player of the year honors as a freshman. His combination of size, skill, and defensive instincts made him an immediate impact player in the league. As of 2026, he is preparing for his second NBA season and is a cornerstone for the Mavericks, known for his two-way versatility.[edit]

Cooper Flagg grew up in rural Maine, the middle child of Kelly and Ralph Flagg. He first drew national attention in middle school, dominating local competition. He began high school at Nokomis Regional in Newport, playing varsity as a freshman and averaging 20.5 points and 10 rebounds per game, which attracted Division I college interest. For his sophomore year, he transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, a powerhouse program that placed him on a national stage against elite competition daily. At Montverde, he helped the team win the GEICO Nationals championship in 2022 and again in 2023. He was named a McDonald's All-American and a Jordan Brand Classic selection in 2024. Flagg also represented USA Basketball, winning gold medals at the FIBA Under-17 World Cup in 2022 and the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in 2023.[edit]

Flagg's breakthrough came during his senior season at Montverde Academy (2023-24), where he won GEICO Nationals and earned Gatorade National Player of the Year, Naismith Prep Player of the Year, and MaxPreps National Player of the Year. He committed to Duke and, as a freshman in 2024-25, averaged 19.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, leading the Blue Devils to the Elite Eight. He swept the national player of the year awards: Naismith, Wooden, and AP, and also won the NABC Defensive Player of the Year. He declared for the 2025 NBA draft. The Dallas Mavericks selected him first overall. In his rookie season (2025-26), he averaged 21.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, winning NBA Rookie of the Year and earning a spot on the All-Rookie First Team. He has been featured on covers of Sports Illustrated, SLAM Magazine, and Duke Basketball Magazine.[edit]

Flagg is known for his intense competitiveness on the court and a quiet, mature demeanor off it. Media outlets frequently call him a generational talent and a potential future MVP. His social media presence is reserved, mostly posting game highlights, family photos, and sponsored content. His fanbase is often referred to as Flagg Nation or The Flaggship. He is widely seen as humble and family-oriented, which resonates with fans. He has notably said, 'I just want to be the best player I can be. I don't really care about the hype. I just want to win.' As of 2026, his Instagram has 2.8 million followers and his X/Twitter has 1.1 million followers.[edit]

Cooper Flagg's fanbase is real and growing, but it doesn't have a formal name, no equivalent to Swifties or the BeyHive. Fans simply call themselves Cooper Flagg fans, Flagg fans, or, depending on the era, Duke fans and now Mavericks fans. His Instagram following of roughly 2 million reflects a broad, engaged audience, yet there's no organized fan club or signature ritual. The most talked-about fan moment so far is the minor league baseball team's Cooper Flagg bobblehead giveaway, which became so coveted that eBay listings soared, with one asking price reaching $30,000, a quirky piece of fan lore that shows his appeal beyond basketball.

In the middle of this, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Flagg but he does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, neither the Global Top 1,000 nor any Top-100 scope list. That's not a slight; it's a snapshot of a career still in its opening chapters. His legend is being written in real time: the U17 World Cup gold, the first freshman named Maine Gatorade Player of the Year, and those 50-point rookie games that had fans and media buzzing. The stories fans tell are overwhelmingly forward-looking, projections of MVP trophies and Finals runs, not nostalgic tales of past glory. There's no formal fandom name, no elaborate rituals yet, but the foundation is there, and the narrative is compelling.[edit]

Flagg wears jersey number 32 in honor of his mother's college number at Maine. He is a lifelong Boston Celtics fan who grew up watching Paul Pierce. He was the first recruit from Maine to be ranked the No. 1 overall prospect in modern recruiting history. He is 6 feet 9 inches tall. His full birth name is Cooper Flagg. He was born on December 21, 2006, making him 19 years old as of 2026. He has no children. He has made early-stage investments in tech startups through a family office. He is not on the Forbes list but his net worth is estimated between $10 million and $15 million.

One of the most retold stories from his young career is his meteoric rise from a small-town Maine high schooler to the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, a narrative that began with his historic U17 World Cup performance, where he led the team in rebounds at just 15 years old. During his rookie season, he dropped 50-point games, a feat that became a defining moment and a favorite talking point among fans. Another fan phenomenon emerged when Celtics fans began openly 'recruiting' him during the 2025-26 season, a story that continues to generate buzz and speculation about his future.[edit]

Cooper Flagg is the son of Kelly and Ralph Flagg. Kelly played college basketball at the University of Maine; Ralph played at Eastern Maine Community College. He has an older brother, Hunter, who played college basketball at Maine, and a twin brother, Ace, who committed to the University of Florida. The family lived in Newport, Maine, where Cooper and Ace were homeschooled for two years to focus on basketball. As of 2026, Cooper lives in Dallas, Texas, during the NBA season. He has a dog named Moose. Cooper has often credited his mother for teaching him the game, stating, 'My mom taught me everything I know about the game. She's the reason I'm here.'[edit]

Flagg played under coach Jon Scheyer at Duke. In the NBA, his Mavericks teammates include Kyrie Irving. His twin brother Ace Flagg plays college basketball at Florida. He has endorsement deals with Nike/Air Jordan, Gatorade, and Panini America.[edit]

As of 2026, Cooper Flagg has kept his romantic life completely private. There are no publicly confirmed relationships, and he has not been linked to any partners. His social media focuses solely on basketball and family. He is currently single and has no children.[edit]

As of 2026, iFANN's editorial analysis estimates Cooper Flagg's net worth at $12 million. His primary income source is his rookie contract with the Dallas Mavericks, a four-year deal worth approximately $57 million with $31.6 million guaranteed. His 2025-26 salary was around $12.4 million. He also earns an estimated $5-8 million annually from endorsements, including a multi-year shoe and apparel deal with Nike/Air Jordan, as well as partnerships with Gatorade and Panini America. He has made early-stage investments in tech startups, though details are not public. Celebrity Net Worth estimates $10 million. His endorsement earnings are estimated at $4-6 million annually by Forbes.[edit]

Flagg won Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2024 and swept the major national player of the year awards in college: Naismith, Wooden, and AP. He was also named NABC Defensive Player of the Year. In the NBA, he won Rookie of the Year and made the All-Rookie First Team in 2026.[edit]