"They can be any team they want to be": Duke's Cooper Flagg offers assessment of LeBron James-led USA Basketball's 2024 Paris Olympic Team

Duke freshman Cooper Flagg joined the Select Team for three days of practice against the USA Men's National team in Las Vegas as they prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics. During the final session of scrimmage on Monday, Flagg spoke to the Washington Post's Ben Golliver.

The 17-year-old gave his account of playing against veterans like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. Commenting on their potential at the Olympics, Cooper Flagg said:

“They can be any team they want to be. They have no weaknesses, no holes. They can play any type of way and dominate. It’s going to be a dominant team that assets their will on everybody they see.”

Cooper Flagg will now be heading back to Duke, where he will return to practices with the Blue Devils. The completely rebuilt roster is hard at practice as they try to end Duke's nine-year championship drought.

Cooper Flagg draws rave reviews from Select Team coach and players

Cooper Flagg made good use of the opportunity to play in the Select Team as he exhibited all his incredible skills during the practice. From three-pointers to well-timed passes and putbacks, the forward did it all going against some of the best players in the NBA.

Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley, who led the Select Team during practice, heaped his praises on Flagg and said:

"He kicked butt here. There's a respect factor for what he's done. People who have not seen him play, as he gets himself going within the game, they quickly see what he can do."

"[He has a] high basketball IQ, tough, willing to learn. He gets to the spots that he needs to for a shot a lot, able to get to the rim, great touch on his shot. I mean, he can play. There's no in between. There's me saying, in many different forms, he can just flat out play."

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, who plays for the national team, also praised Flagg.

"He wants it," Booker said. "I know this experience he's going to take with him and move forward."

Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. played as Cooper Flagg's teammate over the three days. He detailed the rookie's basketball IQ and hunger and said:

"To be able to do what he did, not even playing a college game, let alone an NBA game, there's no fear, He doesn't need the ball. He just finds a way to it. And the ball finds its way to him. That's something that you can't teach. He's just got a great feel for the game."

Flagg is set to make his college debut this fall and is expected to be a one-and-done player. With his performance in Vegas, Flagg further cemented his position as the predicted No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.