- Apr 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) and Duke Blue Devils guard Tyrese Proctor (5) react against the Houston Cougars in the semifinals of the men's Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Brian Scalabrine Has High Hopes for Cooper Flagg

Originally posted on Total Apex Sports | By Ana Kieu | Last updated Aug 23, 2025 7:26 PM ET

Boston Celtics legend Brian Scalabrine has high hopes for Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg. Here’s why Scalabrine, 47, thinks highly of Flagg and why he thinks he will be pivotal to the success of the team at such a young age.

Boston Celtics Legend’s High Hopes for Cooper Flagg

Brian Scalabrine has high hopes for Cooper Flagg. Five years ago, Scalabrine received a phone call from trainer Matt McKenzie informing him of a 13-year-old boy from Maine who was handling his business on the basketball court with near perfection against college basketball players. That boy was none other than Flagg.

Scalabrine was initially skeptical, but Cooper Flagg showed up and showed out at his basketball camp. The future first overall pick blew away the former second-round pick, thanks to the latter’s high basketball IQ, command of the court, and penchant for finding open teammates.

Scalabrine told Mavs.com, “And it wasn’t because he dunked or anything like that … It was a cross-court pass teamed up to a guy with perfect timing in the corner in a game where there were Division-1 players there — 18-19-year-old players there — and he passed every test.”Scalabrine continued, “It’s not just the eye test … Mentally, he’s on a whole other level. His greatest strength as a basketball player is his ability to learn.

This year, he’ll play, and he might make a mistake, but a month later, that mistake will be a thing of the past. Ask anybody.” Scalabrine concluded, “You can ask his high school coach. You can ask Jon Scheyer. And you’ll find out that whatever mistake he made, he learned from it.”

Cooper Flagg’s Outlook

Cooper Flagg’s outlook primarily depends on his transition from the NCAA to the NBA. Flagg played a lone season at Duke from 2024-25. The Newport, Maine native excels in scoring and passing the basketball, and his expertise extends to moving the ball, running a team, and guarding. Flagg is 6-foot-9, 205 pounds, and only 18 years old. Flagg’s still growing. However, the Duke men’s basketball alum was effectively processing things as a “very young teenager,” per Brian Scalabrine.

Final Thoughts

Cooper Flagg will turn 19 years old on December 21, just four days before Christmas. But, until then, Brian Scalabrine’s high hopes of Flagg are justified. Flagg’s projected as an instant starter for the Dallas Mavericks, but likely won’t be expected to carry the Mavericks, a team with promising prospects and seasoned veterans.

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

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