Cooper Flagg’s brand is so well known and his future so bright, that a reporter asked NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in Paris if he could be “one of the next [American] faces of the league.”
“The last person I want to put pressure on is Cooper Flagg, but he looks pretty spectacular so far,” Silver said at the 2025 NBA Paris Games where potential future No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa was in attendance.
Of course, Victor Wembanyama, the star of the games in Paris, could well end up being the overall face of the league for the next two decades.
“I will just add that while it’s amazing to see the breadth and depth of international players coming into the NBA, 70% of our players in the NBA are still U.S. players,” Silver added.
“Could we do a better job working potentially with other youth programs in the U.S. developing U.S. players? Absolutely.”
The 6-foot-9 Flagg, a Duke freshman, is widely expected to be the No. 1 pick in this summer’s NBA Draft. The Washington Wizards own the NBA’s worst record and a 14% chance at landing Flagg, followed by the Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans, per Tankathon.com.
The Brooklyn Nets own the league’s sixth-worst record and have a 9% chance at the top pick, per Tankathon.
The Rutgers duo of Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey are the projected Nos. 2 and 3 picks, per Tankathon and ESPN.com.
Flagg leads Duke in scoring (19.2), rebounding (8.1), assists (4.1), steals (1.6) and blocks (1.2). The last freshman to lead his team in all five categories was eventual No. 1 pick Ben Simmons at LSU in 2015-16.
In his last eight games, Flagg is averaging 23.4 ppg on 56% shooting and 50% from deep.
Flagg could end up winning various National Player of the Year awards. His main competition, Auburn’s Johni Broome, is currently down with an ankle injury.
If he wins, Flagg would become the fourth freshmen ever to win National Player of the Year honors after Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson, another former Duke star.
Flagg would be Montverde coach Kevin Boyle’s fourth No. 1 overall pick after Kyrie Irving, Simmons and Cade Cunningham.
“My personality is not one to tank,” the Clark, N.J. native and legendary Montverde (FL) Academy coach told NJ Advance Media. “I do understand the business side of [basketball]. Obviously, if you can get a guy like him, it could be unbelievable jolt for the organization.”
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.