There are two sides to Cooper Flagg — and the Duke phenom knows when to become ‘an animal’

Cooper Flagg: A Tale of Two Personalities – On and Off the Court

Highly touted freshman basketball prospect Cooper Flagg presents a study in contrasts. Away from the hardwood, the Duke University player is known for his courteous demeanor, evidenced by his polite “Thank you” at the conclusion of a recent interview session. However, this affable persona sharply diverges from the fiercely competitive athlete driven to lead Duke to the coveted Final Four, a pinnacle he aims to reach before transitioning to a professional career in the NBA.

The Dichotomy of Cooper Flagg

Those around him describe two distinct sides to the 18-year-old prodigy from Maine:

• The Approachable Teenager: Enjoying typical youthful pastimes such as video games, hunting, fishing, and bird-watching, this Cooper Flagg is grounded and relatable.
• The Relentless Competitor: Teammates consistently highlight “The Other Cooper Flagg,” a persona characterized by an intense desire to not just participate, but to dominate and secure victory.

Teammate Perspective

“It’s like a completely different person,” observes freshman teammate Khaman Maluach, underscoring the stark difference between Flagg’s off-court politeness and on-court intensity.