Cooper Flagg responds to Kevin Durant, who calls him a “generational talent”
Rookie phenom Cooper Flagg responds to Kevin Durant’s praise.
Sport in Seriousness
Cooper Flagg, a basketball freshman at Duke University and projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has signed a shoe and apparel deal with New Balance.
The company made the announcement Monday morning, posting a video on X (formerly known as Twitter) titled, “Cooper Flagg, the smart choice.”
“I grew up wearing New Balance shoes and value their authentic connection to my community,” Flagg said in a statement from New Balance.
“I was attracted to the brand’s focus and growth in basketball, as well as our shared values and history. From day one, it was clear that this would be a family-like partnership. I am thrilled to join this family and help them grow the category with young athletes.”
A native of Maine, Flagg grew up about 25 miles from New Balance’s manufacturing facility in Skowhegan. The 6-foot-1 forward from Newport is one of six newcomers on coach Jon Scheyer’s third-year roster, along with four newcomers who join Caleb Foster and returning captain Tyrese Proctor.
COOPER FLAGG SCOUTING REPORT
Flagg made headlines on social media earlier this summer when he was a member of the USA Select team that competed against Team USA in Las Vegas ahead of the Paris Olympics.
“Cooper is a great addition to our basketball roster and we are thrilled to welcome him to the New Balance family,” said Naveen Lokesh, director of basketball sports marketing. “He is a force to be reckoned with on the court and we look forward to growing our relationship with him as he continues to develop the game and supporting him in all of his endeavors.”
Other New Balance athletes include NBA stars Kawhi Leonard and Jamal Murray, as well as MLB’s Shohei Ohtani and tennis great Coco Gauff.
Editor Rodd Baxley can be reached at [email protected] or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
