On Sunday, Duke's Cooper Flagg shone during a select team training scrimmage against the USA Olympic Team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. He seemed at ease facing NBA stars and future Hall-of-Famers.
Flagg, projected to be the top pick in the 2025 NBA draft, went up against LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Stephen Curry and other big names as the Select Team played the Olympic Team, which will compete in Paris this month.
The highlight of the game was Flagg's incredible no-look, behind-the-back pass to a teammate, even though he was in a good position to score himself. This quick-thinking play impressed fans on X (formerly Twitter).
“Man this kid is special. I’d honestly do anything for the season to start tomorrow,” a fan tweeted.
“CLEANNN,” another wrote.
“He’s different!” one fan wrote.
After the game, LeBron James praised Flagg, who finished a breakaway dunk during the scrimmage.
“Nice help @KingJames,” a fan tweeted.
“Damn they stopped the scrimmaged and did a handshake line after Flaggs dunk? He’s really the truth,” another wrote.
“Cooper one of them ones,” one wrote.
Cooper Flagg reflects on his time with the USA Select Team
During a photoshoot before the game, Cooper Flagg spoke about his experience on the USA Select Team:
“It's been a great experience, to learn, talk, kind of see what the routine is, see what some of these guys do. So it's been great to be able to learn,” Flagg said.
When asked who he's most excited to play with, Flagg said:
“I mean, I think everybody, I think everybody on that team, like growing up as a kid, some eye that I kind of looked up to, seniors, some of it I want to be someday, and I think it's the position they're in,” he said. “So it's going to be a cool environment, a cool experience for me.”
The 2024 Paris Olympics will be held from July 26 to Aug. 11. The opening ceremony on July 26 will be along the Seine River in the heart of Paris. This will be the first time the Summer Games' ceremony won't be inside a stadium.
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