The state of Maine, typically related to breathtaking nature and lobster rolls, is about to be entrance and middle at this yr’s NBA draft, as Cooper Flagg is anticipated to make historical past as the primary No. 1 decide from the Pine Tree State.
“It’s a very cool feeling, actually cool for me to undergo and type of have all of the help of Maine behind me,” Flagg instructed NBC Information on the AT&T Flaggship Expertise occasion in New York Metropolis forward of the draft, which begins Wednesday evening.
“I really received to go house for slightly bit this summer season up to now, and simply seeing all of the help and seeing everyone was actually good for me, and it’s simply such a cool feeling understanding that I’ve the entire state behind me, and it’s type of historical past that I’m with the ability to do.”
Flagg is from Newport (pop. 3,133), a city half-hour west of Bangor, identified not for its basketball gamers however for its pure magnificence. And no matter the place he’s drafted, Flagg will change into simply the third particular person born in Maine to play within the NBA, and the primary one to be drafted in 41 years. Illinois and North Carolina presently prepared the ground with seven No. 1 picks every for the reason that draft started in 1947.
“Extra than simply my household, my village of individuals again house in Maine and my supporters who’ve type of carried me by every part, and my supporters are actually essential to me and who I’m at this time,” Flagg mentioned.
The Dallas Mavericks have the primary decide within the draft, however regardless of the place he finally ends up, Flagg will stay a Mainer to his core — ordering his lobster rolls chilled with mayo (versus the competing Connecticut model of heat with butter).
Maine basketball runs by the Flagg household. Flagg’s mom, Kelly Bowman Flagg, performed at Nokomis Regional Excessive Faculty, the identical college each Cooper and his twin brother, Ace, gained a state championship with, and he or she captained the crew on the College of Maine. Cooper’s father, Ralph, performed at Jap Maine Neighborhood Faculty. Ace presently performs for College of Maine.
Cooper’s basketball profession began with one-on-one video games in opposition to Ace and older brother Hunter within the household’s driveway in Newport. These video games generally resulted in fistfights.
Cooper, now 18 and 6-foot-9, says these video games and his upbringing are on the root of his aggressive drive.
“They taught us from a younger age, and simply enjoying 100% , as onerous as you’ll be able to each single time, enjoying and giving your all to the sport. So I believe it’s type of the way you’re raised. And you then type of get that as you play extra extra within the driveway, and also you simply by no means need to lose to your brothers.”
In accordance with Ace, Cooper was identical to each different shy child rising up in Maine. “However when you’ve gotten a tight-knit neighborhood, like we did in Maine, that’s when you’ll be able to actually see him open up,” he mentioned. “We’re surrounded by our family and friends, and he actually comes out of his shell.”
Ace remembers when he and Cooper performed in a sport on the Corridor of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, a yr after they’d moved to Florida to complete highschool. Their associates, household and members of the neighborhood drove three to 4 hours from Maine, filling up the highest part of the bleachers. “It was the loudest part within the constructing. In order that was unimaginable to see simply help after we hadn’t even been in a position to see most of them for a yr at that time, and so they nonetheless confirmed full help.”
Flagg has maintained his connection to Maine all through his profession, particularly off the court docket. Final August, he signed with New Steadiness due to the corporate’s presence within the state, together with a producing plant 25 miles from his hometown.
“The reference to New Steadiness as a household firm and an organization with Maine roots means rather a lot to me,” Flagg mentioned on the time. “That makes this actually totally different and particular. My mother used to go to the tent sale for back-to-school procuring there after we have been youngsters. That basically aligns the model with my roots. It’s an ideal match.”
The AT&T Flaggship Expertise leaned into Flagg’s ties to Maine in an try to attach followers to his complete profession — beginning in his house state. They featured his jerseys from Nokomis H.S. and AAU crew Maine United, displayed images and newspaper clips from his time in Maine and branded the activation because the “Maine Occasion,” referring to the “village” of help his mom, Kelly, typically refers to.
However it’s not simply Maine that’s behind Cooper — the fandom has unfold to all of New England.
Former Celtics participant Brian Scalabrine, now a commentator for the Boston Celtics — mentioned followers all through the area always ask him about Flagg.
“The entire state of Maine is behind him. New England is behind him,” Scalabrine instructed NBC Information. “They love the truth that this child is out of the center of nowhere.”
Scalabrine notes that Flagg’s rise within the sport provides hope to younger gamers across the nation who’re in distant locations. “Each child, white, Black, a child from Europe, wherever, is taking a look at like this child from the center of nowhere, and he’s turning into the No. 1 decide within the draft,” he mentioned. “He’s giving different individuals the chance to assume you’ll be able to come from wherever and make it. You possibly can come from the center of Maine and develop your self into the No. 1 decide within the draft.”
Maine native and Boston Celtics fan James Little, 37, who was on the AT&T occasion mentioned: “He has the hopes of your complete state using on his shoulders. This is likely one of the largest issues to ever occur for our state shortly.”
Portland resident Marisa Veroneau, 43, additionally on the Flagg occasion on Monday, famous that even nonbasketball followers are enthusiastic about Flagg. “There may be fairly a little bit of buzz round city, Mainers are excited to see certainly one of our hometown youngsters on the prime of the draft. I count on Maverick jerseys to spike in these elements quickly.”
