"I'm definitely the best trash talker": When Duke's Cooper Flagg shared a funny story about him and his brothers Hunter and Ace Flagg

Duke Blue Devils shooting guard Cooper Flagg is known for his exceptional basketball talent. However, there was a time when he revealed he excelled in trash-talking as well, something hoops fans couldn't have guessed about their favorite player.

In a throwback video on Portland Press Herald's YouTube channel featuring Cooper Flagg and his family’s interview with CentralMaine.com writer Drew Bonifant, Cooper Flagg playfully revealed he is the “best trash talker in the family.”

“I was, you know, I was definitely the one that was easily under people's skin, because I was winning, so I mean, you're winning; it's easy to talk trash.” (15:22)

His mom couldn’t resist chiming in, laughingly affirming:

"So much trash talking.”

Cooper then pretty much accepted the title of trash talker in the family, exclaiming:

“I am definitely the best trash talker, I mean, no one compares to me when it comes to old driveway basketball league, so, you know, I’d kill him a little bit and talk to smack, and then they end up punting the ball across the street, and you'd have to get it so.”

At this moment, Flagg’s mom weighed in again, revealing it was often Hunter Flagg who would be the target of Cooper’s playful antics.

“I think Hunter was the one who gets most frustrated though; he loses mind; he would lose his mind,” she added.

To that, Cooper laughingly replied:

"Yaah, so one of my favorite things to do was I would intentionally make Hunter mad; get him; get him till he does something like punch me or throw the ball at me,” adding that he would provoke Hunter enough to drive him crazy.

Hunter, not letting Cooper have the last laugh, responded:

“I mean, that's not how I remember things going; I'd like to plead the fifth in this one, so I'll just sit this one out.”

Although Hunter and Cooper constantly pushed each other's buttons, their sibling rivalry only fueled their growth, helping both of them stand out as rising stars throughout their high school careers.

Cooper Flagg Carrying Forward His Mother’s Legacy

Cooper Flagg and Hunter Flagg come from a family that has deep ties with basketball. Their mother, Kelly Bowman Flagg, accumulated 1200 points at Nokomis High School and then moved on to play for the University of Maine. Interestingly, she was part of the 1999 Maine team that defeated Stanford and claimed their program's only NCAA tournament victory.

Following in his mother's footsteps, Cooper Flagg registered 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 3.7 steals per game in his freshman year at Nokomis Regional High School. Following the incredible performance, he was named Maine Gatorade Player of the Year, etching his name in history as the first freshman to win the award.

He then moved to Montverde Academy and managed 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in his final high school season, making him the No. 3 prospect in the 2025 recruiting class.