"Kobe Bryant reincarnated": Hoops world reacts to Cooper Flagg's photoshoot for USA Select Team while playing with LeBron James, Steph Curry and more
Cooper Flagg, a freshman forward for the Duke Blue Devils, made it onto the 15-man roster for the USA Select Team. On Sunday, Flagg was in action, playing against the USA Olympic Team in Las Vegas.
In a video posted on Instagram, the 6-foot-8 athlete shared his experience playing against players like LeBron James and Steph Curry:
"It's been a great experience being able to learn, talk, see what their routine is and see what some of these guys do. So it's been great."
Basketball fans were excited to watch the 17-year-old go toe to toe with some of the NBA greats. They were impressed by Cooper Flagg's skills and potential, with some even drawing comparisons to basketball legends.
"Kobe reincarnated," one fan wrote.
Other hoop fans believe that Flagg will be the next big thing in the basketball world in the years to come.
"Finally the only player we care about on the select team," one fan commented.
"I can never jus think as a 17 year old kid to casually play against bron n them," another fan wrote.
Other fans lauded the player's athletic abilities.
"Kids gonna be different," one fan commented.
"Cooper it will be fun watching the only college guy to destroy NBA legends," one more said.
"Cooper is the next rookie of the year," another fan wrote.
Cooper Flagg was shocked to get called up for US Select Team
Cooper Flagg was stunned when Grant Hill, Team USA's executive director, informed him that he had been picked to join the Select Team. Flagg became the first college player in over ten years to participate in Team USA's training camp.
"I was pretty surprised just because it's not like a normal thing," Flagg told ESPN. "So I was definitely really honored and just excited that I had this opportunity. If you think about it, you're able to learn from ... if you look at their team, it's nobody better.
"So it's just being come out here and learn, this is a great experience and I'm really just humbled and I'm really grateful and blessed that I was selected."
The 2024 National High School Player of the Year committed to Duke in November 2023. ESPN's Jonathan Givony has predicted Cooper Flagg to be the top pick in the 2025 NBA draft.