The USA Select Team scrimmages against the main team ahead of every major tournament, with the Olympic scrimmages known to be among the most competitive games they play. The 2024 Select Team features Duke commit Cooper Flagg, who is projected to go No. 1 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft and impressed in his showing against legends such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
Flagg was imposing his will and showing his incredible touch around the rim throughout the scrimmage, showing his ability to finish even without getting to the rim.
Cooper Flagg is literally 17 years old playing vs future hall of famers
(via @nbafuturenow)
— Overtime (@overtime) July 7, 2024
His dunking prowess led to the biggest highlights of the night, as shown by the clips coming out of the scrimmage.
A perfectly thrown outlet pass from Podz to Cooper Flagg for yet another dunk. pic.twitter.com/Uqnt2vbXsL
— PodzMuse (@PodzMuse) July 8, 2024
Flagg even showed the versatility in his game by dropping some incredible dimes, a no-look behind-the-back pass for an easy layup after drawing Anthony Davis out to defend him at the top of the key.
THE PASS!! Stop it Coop. 🔥🔥@Cooper_Flagg
pic.twitter.com/41J6M3SnVd https://t.co/d2bcSfNCal
— Zion O. (@DukeNBA) July 7, 2024
Flagg’s dunking kept impressing fans and scouts alike, especially on this play where he got blocked by Davis but recovered to find a slam regardless.
Cooper Flagg recovers for the slam 💪
Select Team vs. National Team Scrimmage 🍿 pic.twitter.com/IXbb9vDrgK
— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) July 7, 2024
Flagg is considered the prize of the 2025 NBA Draft, expected to be a generational prospect. The 6’9″ forward will be headed to the Duke Blue Devils for next season, hoping to impress and solidify his draft stock before likely declaring ahead of the 2025 Draft.
He led his high school, Montverde Academy, to a 30-0 record and a national title. He averaged 26.8 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.2 blocks, and 4.7 assists per game in the Nike EYBL League, showing to the world he’s coming into the NBA as a do-it-all prospect who seems to be a lab-created modern-day forward.
Cooper Flagg Reacts To Playing Against NBA Legends
Flagg was asked about his experience playing with legends such as LeBron, Steph, Kevin Durant, and more. He kept it real and stressed the honor of an invite like this while crediting it as a positive experience.
“I was pretty surprised just because it’s not like a normal thing. So I was definitely really honored and just excited that I had this opportunity. If you think about it, you’re able to learn from … if you look at their team, it’s nobody better. So it’s just being come out here and learn, this is a great experience and I’m really just humbled and I’m really grateful and blessed that I was selected.”
The Blue Devil had to overcome his sense of awe while facing the greatest American players of today.
“At first I was a little bit blown away when I first walked up here but then once the ball went up, it’s basketball to me at the end of the day. We’re all really good players, and I’ve always looked up to everybody on that team. But once we started playing, it was just competing.”
He explained what he learned from the experience and how he’s picked up tools that will help him going forward.
“I think it’s everything. Just the way they conduct themselves, the way they take care of themselves, how they treat their bodies, how they prepare… It really is a learning curve and something that you have to learn it and you have to kind of take it from other people and just kind of build your routine. So I think just going to see all their routines, kind of seeing how they interact with the trainers, everybody, and just seeing how they prepare.”
Cooper Flagg is one of the most hyped prospects of the last decade, with his rapidly developing skill matching his jaw-dropping athletic gifts. He’ll be an elite transition player from day one in the NBA and is expected to develop as a passing hub who can do anything asked of him on an NBA court.
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