Cooper Flagg went from a small town in Maine to becoming the number one pick in the NBA draft, and now his name is trending again for a fun family TV moment and a big rookie season honor. This article lays out every verified fact about his life so far, from his real birth date to his family, his height, and why people are searching for him again this week.
Who is Cooper Flagg and why he matters
Cooper Flagg is an American professional basketball player who plays small forward for the Dallas Mavericks. He was the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft after a single, record setting season at Duke University, where he won the Naismith and Wooden awards as the best player in college basketball and was named National College Player of the Year. Before Duke, he led Nokomis Regional High School in Maine to a state title as a freshman, then transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, where he became a McDonald’s All American. He also represented the United States on youth national teams, winning gold and earning MVP honors along the way. His rise from a tiny Maine town to the top of the NBA draft is a rare story, and it is a big reason fans across the country now search his name daily.
Current Status: Why Cooper Flagg Is Trending (July 24, 2026)
Cooper Flagg is trending this week for a mix of basketball honors and lighter family moments. He was named NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2025 to 2026 season after averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game for the Dallas Mavericks in his debut year. On July 23, 2026, he appeared with his family on Celebrity Family Feud on ABC, teaming up with his twin brother Ace, older brother Hunter, mother Kelly, father Ralph, and his grandfather to compete against a team from Barstool Sports, all to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas.
Just a couple days earlier, on July 21, 2026, Flagg appeared on Kevin Hart’s show Cold as Balls and shared that he plans to open a card shop in Maine with his cousin. He was also spotted enjoying the 2026 FIFA World Cup during his NBA offseason, celebrating a Norway win alongside NFL quarterback Jameis Winston. Between the rookie award, the game show appearance, and his offseason plans back home, it makes sense why “Cooper Flagg wikipedia” is such a common search this week.
Important dates to remember:
- Celebrity Family Feud appearance with the Flagg family: July 23, 2026
- Card shop announcement on Cold as Balls: July 21, 2026
What To Know About Cooper Flagg
Early Life and Family Background
Cooper Flagg was born on December 21, 2006, in Newport, Maine, a small town about 25 miles west of Bangor. He grew up in a basketball focused household, with a mother, Kelly Bowman Flagg, who was a standout player at the University of Maine and later became a high school basketball coach, and a father, Ralph Flagg, who played basketball through the community college level. All three Flagg brothers started playing basketball as toddlers, and Cooper stood out early, already taller than six feet by the start of sixth grade.
Career
Flagg’s basketball path moved quickly from local Maine gyms to the top of the sport.
| Year | Career Milestone |
|---|---|
| As a freshman | Led Nokomis Regional High School to a Maine state championship |
| 2022 | Won gold and MVP honors with the USA Under 17 team at the FIBA Under 17 World Cup |
| 2023 to 2024 | Transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida, named a McDonald’s All American |
| 2024 | Committed to and enrolled at Duke University |
| 2024 to 2025 | Won the Naismith and Wooden awards, named National College Player of the Year at Duke |
| June 2025 | Selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA draft |
| 2025 to 2026 season | Named NBA Rookie of the Year after averaging 21 points per game |
Age
As of July 2026, Cooper Flagg is 19 years old. He was born on December 21, 2006, so he celebrates his birthday every December.
Religion
There is no publicly confirmed information about Cooper Flagg’s religious beliefs, and he has not spoken about this part of his life in interviews, so nothing further can be reported here.
Wife/Husband
Cooper Flagg is not married and has not publicly confirmed a girlfriend or relationship. His mother Kelly has said in interviews that she encouraged him to avoid serious relationships during his one year at Duke, and Cooper has kept his personal life largely private since then, unlike his twin brother Ace, who is openly dating fellow college athlete Lizzy Gruber.
Net Worth
Cooper Flagg’s exact net worth has not been officially confirmed. As the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, he signed a standard rookie scale contract with the Dallas Mavericks, and he has also picked up endorsement deals since turning professional, but a specific total dollar figure is not something he or his team has released publicly.
Parents
His parents are Kelly Bowman Flagg, a former University of Maine basketball player turned high school coach, and Ralph Flagg, who played basketball at the community college level. Both parents remain closely involved in Cooper’s basketball journey and often appear alongside him at public events.
Height
Cooper Flagg is listed at around 6 feet 8 inches to 6 feet 9 inches tall, depending on the source, and weighs about 205 pounds. His listed wingspan is close to 7 feet, which adds to his reach on both ends of the court.
Education
Flagg attended Nokomis Regional High School in Newport, Maine, before transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida for his final years of high school. He then enrolled at Duke University in 2024, where he played one season of college basketball before entering the NBA draft.
State of Origin
Cooper Flagg is originally from Newport, Maine, in the United States, a small town that has embraced him as a hometown hero.
Social Media
You can follow Cooper Flagg’s official updates on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cooper_flagg, where he shares moments from his games, his family, and his life off the court.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Cooper Flagg in 2026?
Cooper Flagg is 19 years old in 2026. He was born on December 21, 2006, in Newport, Maine.
How tall is Cooper Flagg?
He stands between 6 feet 8 inches and 6 feet 9 inches tall, depending on the listing, and weighs about 205 pounds.
Who are Cooper Flagg’s parents?
His parents are Kelly Bowman Flagg, a former University of Maine basketball player, and Ralph Flagg, who played basketball at the community college level.
Does Cooper Flagg have siblings?
Yes, he has an older brother, Hunter, and a twin brother, Ace, who plays college basketball at the University of Maine.
What college did Cooper Flagg attend?
He attended Duke University for one season, where he won the Naismith and Wooden awards before entering the 2025 NBA draft.
What is Cooper Flagg’s net worth?
His exact net worth is not officially confirmed, though as the first overall NBA draft pick he holds a standard rookie scale contract plus growing endorsement deals.
What team does Cooper Flagg play for?
He plays small forward for the Dallas Mavericks, who selected him first overall in the 2025 NBA draft.
Final Word
Cooper Flagg’s story shows what happens when raw talent meets a family that already understood the game inside and out. From dominating gyms in small town Maine to winning national college awards at Duke and now holding an NBA Rookie of the Year trophy, his rise has been fast, but it never looks rushed, and that says a lot about how grounded his upbringing was.
Now, with a hit rookie season behind him, a fun family TV appearance, and even a card shop planned back home, Cooper Flagg is proving that staying close to Maine and his family matters just as much to him as his basketball success. Whatever comes next for him in Dallas, his roots and his results are both already part of the record books.
Disclaimer: This article is compiled from publicly available and verified sources, including Wikipedia, Britannica, official team information, and current sports news coverage. Figures such as height and net worth vary slightly between sources and are presented as commonly reported estimates, not official numbers confirmed by Cooper Flagg or the Dallas Mavericks. This content is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cooper Flagg or the NBA.
Disclaimer: All facts and narratives provided in this biography are drawn from publicly available materials. The content is offered purely for general awareness. Despite careful research, discrepancies or updates may occur as new information becomes available.
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