Cooper Flag shared an emotional moment with his mother, Kelly, on Wednesday night after the Dallas Mavericks made him the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Duke standout was called to the stage by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
The 6-foot-9 player, looking sharp in a suit, later reunited with his family for an interview following the draft. Kelly expressed her joy, stating, “I wanted him to love the game as much as we all do. We’re thrilled that he’s reached this moment. It’s incredible.”
Flag, alongside his father Ralph and brother, mentioned he wouldn’t be where he is today without their support.
The Flag family has a deep connection to basketball.
His mother, Kelly, scored over 1,000 points in high school and played at the University of Maine during the late 1990s, contributing to their historic victory over Stanford in their first-ever NCAA tournament game in the 1998-99 season. The team was honored in the school’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
Ralph, the family patriarch, played basketball at Eastern Maine Community College. In 2022, Cooper along with his siblings, Hunter and Ace, helped their high school team at Maine Nokomis secure a state championship.
In a recent pre-draft interview, Cooper reflected on his competitive one-on-one games with his mother, reminiscing, “We always played in the driveway… and she usually won.”
Updates from the 2025 NBA Draft
On Tuesday, Flag shared with his family a saying from Kelly: “If you’re the best player in the gym, find a new gym.”
During his freshman year at Duke, Flag averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists.
Reflecting on the upcoming draft experience, he said, “It’s going to be incredible. These are moments I’ve dreamed of, and it’s surreal to experience them with my family. I’m really excited.”
