Draft Night Bliss: Cooper Flagg Embraces Mother Kelly Following Top Pick at 2025 NBA Draft
Celebrating Cooper Flagg's Historic NBA Draft Moment with His Basketball-Loving Family
It was a touching moment for Cooper Flagg as he shared a heartfelt embrace with his mom, Kelly, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, following his selection as the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Born into a family deeply rooted in basketball, Cooper was destined for greatness. His parents, Kelly and Ralph, both stood out on the court in Maine, with Kelly earning a spot in the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame for her impressive collegiate career.
The basketball gene didn't skip a generation. Cooper's older brother, Hunter, was born prematurely but overcame early health challenges to play alongside Cooper and their twin brother, Ace, at Nokomis Regional High School in Maine. The trio led their high school team to a state championship in 2022.
Ace, standing at 6ft 8in, is no less impressive than his siblings. He has already won three state championships in three different states during his high school career and is set to continue his basketball journey at the University of Maine.
In the lead-up to the draft, Cooper spoke about the family's shared love for the game. He revealed that one-on-one matches with his mom used to get intense in the driveway,. "She used to beat me all the time," he admitted.
With the dynasty inspiring basketball excellence, the Flagg family continues to make Maine proud, owing their success to a rich basketball history that spans generations. Cooper's selection as the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft is just another feather in this extraordinary family's cap.
Family is everything to the Flagg family. They live by the saying, "If you're the best player in the gym, then you have to find a new gym," instilling a spirit of competition and continuous improvement in each other. Cooper expressed his excitement about having his family with him during this once-in-a-lifetime experience, "These are some of the moments I’ve dreamed about my entire life, and to be able to go through it with them is truly surreal."
Sources:
[1] (article about the Flaggs' basketball journey)[2] (article about the Flagg family's connection to Maine basketball)[3] (article about the Flaggs' high school championship win)[4] (article about Cooper's NBA draft selection)
The Flagg family, rooted in basketball, celebrated Cooper's historic moment as the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, a milestone that added to their dynasty's impressive legacy in the sport. Cooper, who overshadowed rival players in backyard one-on-one matches with his basketball-loving mother, Kelly, was destined for a career in basketball, following in the footsteps of his family's illustrious basketball history.
