Mavericks Star Cooper Flagg’s Move on Friday Was Unexpected

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Mavericks Star Cooper Flagg’s Move on Friday Was Unexpected

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Abdul Bari Khan | Last updated Apr 17, 2026 11:57 AM ET

Though his season may have ended early, Cooper Flagg still awaits the announcement of the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award. But while the decision on the honor is yet to be made, Flagg made an unexpected move.

At 19 years old, the Mavericks rookie is currently the youngest player in the NBA. While he may be a threat to many on the court, Flagg still has plenty of aspirations in his personal life. Like many, he would have wished to meet some of his childhood heroes.

That opportunity brought him to Europe just four days after finishing his first NBA season in Dallas. The Sidemen, a popular YouTube group from the United Kingdom, are set to host their 7th charity soccer match at Wembley Stadium in London. Flagg, who has been a fan of the group since his younger days, made sure to attend the training day in London ahead of the big match.

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“Fancy seeing you here Cooper Flagg,” the Sidemen wrote on their page. The photo quickly drew attention, collecting more than 100,000 likes in just two hours. The NBA star has been following several members of the group since his time at Duke.

While attending the training session, Flagg also appeared on a live stream with streamer Marlon. The NBA star shared that he has been watching the Sidemen since childhood. He then reflected on his rookie season, saying, “It was a good season, honestly. But not for us, we didn’t win very much.”

Flagg has already spoken about his desire to work more during the offseason with the Mavericks. But as the Sidemen prepare to take the field at Wembley Stadium this weekend, the 19-year-old will take a brief break from his professional life to enjoy watching his childhood heroes from the stands.

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

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