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Kelly Flagg Jokes About Cooper Flagg Becoming a Bust

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 3:03 PM ET

On Wednesday night, Cooper Flagg's life changed forever when the Dallas Mavericks made him their choice with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Viewed as one of the most impressive players to enter the league in years, there's only one "fan" who has been there since the very beginning: his mother, Kelly Flagg.

In a sit-down interview with Chime, a finance app, called "Mama, I Made It," the Flaggs answered questions about his upbringing and life in basketball.

When asked how much they would pay for a Flagg rookie card, Kelly answered $1 and Cooper responded that he would pay $2.5 million.

'I'm not paying more than a dollar, you better give me one! ... I'm not paying for it." Kelly joked.

Cooper replied sarcastically, "I'm glad she believes in me."

"You better make sure you're not a bust first," Kelly teased back, almost under her breath.

Flagg was born in Newport, Maine. His mother played college basketball at the University of Maine, serving as a team captain in her senior season. Flagg's father, Ralph, played basketball at Eastern Maine Community College.

Flagg's brother, Ace, aptly described the competitiveness within the family when speaking to New Center Maine in April.

"We couldn't play a game in our driveway without someone bleeding," Ace said. "The game would end when someone ran in yelling for mom, but it was always fun."

Ralph backed up his son's sentiment when he described Kelly's passion for the game to ESPN, which he observed during one-on-one games, where she would often fail to slow him down with her up-and-under moves.

"She was pretty deadly with that and a fierce competitor."

Widely viewed as the No. 1 player in the 2024 recruiting class, Flagg committed to the Duke Blue Devils. He would lead Duke to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament before a 70-67 loss to Houston ended their season.

The Mavericks' throne now belongs to Cooper, even if it takes time for him to assume that mantle.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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