"They're still regular people": Duke sensation Cooper Flagg stays unfazed despite summer with celebrities and top athletes
Duke commit Cooper Flagg rubbed shoulders with many stars and athletes in the offseason. After a stellar high school career, he saw a rapid rise in his potential draft stocks by becoming an early favorite for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Flagg was invited to be a part of the Select Team that played against Team USA earlier this month. His elite performance at the scrimmage surprised scouts, coaches, and fans alike.
Recently, he was also interviewed by GQ Sports, who asked him about his experience with meeting a lot of famous people in the summer.
"It's kind of weird sometimes. For me, I just see them as regular people. I think that's what people can't see sometimes," Flagg said. "Even If people are celebrities or they're famous, they're still just regular people at the end of the day. I see everyone as a regular person. I've enjoyed getting to know different types of people that do different things.
GQ Sports then asked Flagg if he has elevated himself to a new level after so much fame.
"Nah, I think I'm definitely a normal person," Flagg replied. "I think everybody who know me would say that. I'm just like anybody else. Go about my business, handle what I have to. I like to think that I'm pretty down to earth and connected with society right now."
Cooper Flagg led Montverde Academy to an undefeated 30-0 last season and also won them the championship. At the end of the season, he averaged 16.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3.8 apg, and 2.7 bpg and was named the Gatorade Player of the Year 2024 in March.
GQ Sports asked him if being Gatorade Player of the Year was his ultimate goal during the season.
"I didn't really think about ay of the awards. It definitely crossed my mind a couple times, but I was never actively thinking, I have to win this. I was just playing my game. But it was really cool. I was kind of shocked. I wasn't really expecting it at all. It was a great experience to share that moment with my teammates," Flagg said.
Cooper Flagg reveals his initial nervousness upon his selection for the Select Team
Cooper Flagg stunned the hoops world after making amazing sequences and 3-pointers over the NBA greats at the Select Team vs Team USA game. He gained more and more confidence on the court as the clock was ticking. However, in the interview with GQ Sports, he revealed that he was nervous at first.
"The nerves were definitely high! I was pretty nervous to be in that environment and play against that level of players. Once I got on the court, all the never kind of went away. That's how it's kind of always been for me," Flagg told GQ Sports.
Flagg added that the pressure and nerves go away every time he starts playing. Ignoring who is in the front and just focusing on playing the ball is the difference maker, according to him.
Also Read: College hoops insider believes Cooper Flagg should’ve been on Team USA instead of 2X NBA champ