On the first possession of a scrimmage against the United States Olympic team last weekend, Cooper Flagg was playing defense and found himself getting switched on to one of the greatest players to ever play basketball.
Suddenly, he was face to face with LeBron James.
For the 17-year-old Flagg, it was a pinch-me moment.
“He said it hit him for about half a second and then he realized, ‘OK, time to lock in,’ and he was getting up under LeBron’s skin,” said Flagg’s personal trainer, Matt MacKenzie. “I think it hit him real quick and then he was like, ‘OK, gotta lock in, this is just another player.’
“He did say that was a moment where it did kind of make him realize for a second where he was and the task that he had at hand.”
Flagg, the Maine native who’s projected to be a top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, did nothing to question that status over three days in Las Vegas, where he was invited to be a member of the U.S. select team that practiced and scrimmaged against the U.S. Olympic team to help them get ready for the Paris Games this summer.
Flagg was unfazed by the moment. In fact, he stole the show. He took over the scrimmages at times, and social media buzzed with his highlights from inside UNLV’s practice gym. Sharing a court featuring NBA all-time greats and superstars like James, Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum, the teenager showed he belonged.
“I think he was just incredibly grateful to be invited to this event, and I don’t think that he really put any expectations on himself other than the fact that he knew he just wanted to go in there and show what he’s capable of doing,” MacKenzie said. “I don’t think it was, I’ve gotta go in there and score 20 a game or I’ve gotta go in there and do anything particular. It was just, ‘Go in there and show the world that I can play at this level,’ and he certainly did that.”
MacKenzie, who’s been Flagg’s trainer since he was in the sixth grade and still works with him, shared an inside look with New England Basketball Journal on Flagg’s experience at Olympics training camp. He joined Flagg’s parents, Kelly and Ralph, and Flagg’s agent in Las Vegas as they attended every practice and scrimmage during the camp.
Day 1 of the camp was mostly just a practice day for the U.S. select team. It was clear to MacKenzie that Flagg – who was the first collegian in over a decade to participate in the U.S. senior national team program – was just getting his feet wet as he got himself situated with his U.S. select team teammates, head coach Jamahl Mosley, and the language of their offensive and defensive schemes.
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But on Day 2, Flagg started to impress. The select team practiced for about 45 minutes before playing two 10-minute periods against the Olympic team, and Flagg was everywhere.
“In that scrimmage, I thought that he did a really good job just proving he belonged and you could tell, every minute that would go by, he looked more and more comfortable just carrying himself on the floor,” MacKenzie said.
MacKenzie said Flagg made some really good plays as he made an impact on both ends of the floor. One early play stuck out: Flagg attempted a short-range jump shot over Anthony Davis that the Lakers star blocked. But Flagg followed the ball, and turned it into an easy dunk seconds later.
MacKenzie thought that play allowed Flagg to settle in and make more good plays. He made a nice back cut as teammate Brandin Podziemski found him for a shot. He got a couple transition buckets and rebounds. He even challenged James and pinned a layup off the backboard, but it was called for goaltending.
“I think just being there at the rim with LeBron and being able to defend guys like that for a few possessions allowed him to just settle in, and him having some success on both ends of the floor made him just realize it’s just basketball at the end of the day,” MacKenzie said. “These guys might be a little bit bigger, a little more physical, a little more experienced than him, but he’s more than capable of fitting in and having success against them.”
On Day 3, Flagg took it to the next level. MacKenzie noticed an enhanced comfort level and it showed in his play. Flagg entered the game midway through the first of three periods and dominated on both ends. He scored in a variety of ways, he was effective in the pick and roll, and he showcased his advanced court vision with the passes he made.
“He was just impossible to take out,” MacKenzie said.
Not only was social media buzzing as some highlights were posted, but inside the gym, other players were certainly taking notice. MacKenzie said he overheard a conversation between Podziemski and Brandon Miller in which the two praised Flagg for how smart of a player he was, and how much they enjoyed playing with him because he made the game so easy.
“They really complimented him on his high IQ and his skill set,” MacKenzie said.
The legends in the gym were impressed, too.
“He looked like a hell of a player,” Kevin Durant said. “He’s somebody that’s only going to get better with more experience. He’s 17 years old coming in here playing like he’s a vet almost. No emotion, just going out there and doing his job, and that’s a good sign.”
MacKenzie said Flagg felt good about how he played, but at the same time knew he had plenty of work still to do. He said Flagg made reference to continuing to learn the NBA language in regards to defensive coverages in pick and rolls. He said Flagg made a comment about how much more physical the game is against NBA players.
Still, despite his age, inexperience and playing on a court with stars he grew up watching, Flagg kept his cool and composure. MacKenzie said he was even-keeled throughout the weekend and never acted like he was surprised or intimidated by the moment. On the biggest stage of his life so far, he made quite the impression.
“Cooper would never be the one to admit that he’s nervous,” MacKenzie said. “He puts high expectations on himself and doesn’t really show when he’s rattled or when he might be intimidated. He has a really calm demeanor and keeps his poise. And that was one thing that the NBA guys complimented him on as well, was just how poised he was throughout the entire weekend and never really allowed himself to be rattled or play too fast. He really just played at his pace and just looked so comfortable out there.”
Flagg also used the opportunity to pick some brains. He spoke at length with other U.S. select team members and current NBA players who have recently been in his shoes, including Miller and Jalen Suggs. MacKenzie said they also spent a lot of time with Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, with whom they had dinner after the first night.
“He was another great resource just kind of sharing his feelings on this experience and what it’s going to look like and what the practices will continue to look like and so forth,” MacKenzie said. “I’m sure Payton will continue to be a resource for Cooper down the road.”
Flagg’s performance at Olympic camp will only add to his growing hype as he heads to play at Duke this fall, but more importantly, it will be a valuable tool for his development. MacKenzie said the experience should bolster Flagg’s already high confidence and will help motivate him as he takes another step closer to fulfilling his dreams.
“I’m just incredibly proud of him and I’m not surprised at what he’s doing right now. But just to see every time that there are these expectations put on him, he just continues to rise up and exceed any expectations,” MacKenzie said. “I think him having success around some of the NBA greats just gives him motivation to be at their level some day, and he wants to be able to make that Olympic team and maybe play at the worlds the next time around."
