Cooper Flagg is all set to create history! The young 18-year-old Flagg might become the second youngest college player ever to get drafted in the NBA. The Newport-born rising star’s performance in the Duke jersey could make him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. But Cooper did not become the talk of the town overnight. He now sits with the Duke Blue Devils Legends like Dick Groat and Tate Armstrong, the only 3 to score at least 42 on Duke’s court.

Every NBA team relies on rising stars, and some of these college players end up making history—think Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and so many others. But how do teams land these stars? By performing well? Not exactly. They tank. This term is used in sports when teams deliberately lose in hopes of securing better draft picks for long-term success. The ethics of this strategy, though, is up for debate.

Cooper Flagg, the ACC player and rookie of the week for two consecutive weeks, might just force teams to tank for him, according to a former coach of Montverde FL Academy.

Kevin Boyle speaks on NBA tanking for Cooper Flagg

Kevil Boyle, the man who shaped many young boys, thinks Flagg is the player every owner will be willing to go all out for. Though the legend does not believe in tanking, he feels that teams might go this way for an extraordinary talent. Speaking to the ‘NJ Advance Media’ over the phone, he said, “My personality is not one to tank,” “but I understand the business side of basketball.”

The former coach of Cooper feels that teams sitting at the bottom have their eyes straight on Flagg. The 64-year-old believes the Raptors, Wizards, Pelicans, and especially the Brooklyn Nets have separate funds to chase for Cooper Flagg as he can provide them with an ‘unbelievable jolt’ in their jersey.

For the coach turned banker, the Duke No. 2 is no ordinary player. He can change the fortunes of the team he plays for. And for Boyle, Cooper might become his fourth No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft. Comparing the young lad with his other No. 1 pick, Cade Cunningham, he said, “I think those two guys are clearly going to be high-level, not just All-Stars, all-pros, for many years.” While it is for the future to witness where he heads, for now the Blue Devils player is ruling the court in his white jersey.

Cooper Flagg, an excellent team player besides being a promising athlete

The Duke star is in the headlines for his performance in the ACC recently. But for us, the basketball fans, it is not just his stats that make him a great player of the game. The former Montverde Academy player knows he plays a sport that needs collective brilliance to succeed in the long run. And he plays accordingly.

Picking a leaf out of his Miami game, Kevin said to the NJ Advance, “He barely took a shot in the first half after coming off of 42 points.” “He understands the importance of teammates, getting confidence, and playing better to win.”

From assisting Kon Knueppel to a career-high 25 points in the game against the Hurricanes to praising his teammate Isaiah Evans after his strong performance against Auburn in December, Cooper Flagg shows all the traits of a true team player. Confident in his game and fully secure in his abilities, Flagg is expected to be the next big name in the NBA.