Cooper Flagg has been on a whirlwind ride over the past few months, one that would be overwhelming for even the most seasoned professionals. From his deep run in the NCAA Tournament to a trip to the Final Four, followed almost immediately by the life-changing moment of being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, Flagg’s life has been in constant motion. The spotlight has followed him every step of the way, and with that spotlight comes both opportunity and pressure.
Now, after the chaos of the draft process, introductory press conferences, summer league action, and an endless cycle of media attention, Flagg has finally returned home. Back in Maine, he is looking to recharge and reconnect with the roots that helped shape him into one of basketball’s brightest young stars.
Like his basketball idol Larry Bird, Flagg hails from a small town where life is slower and community ties run deep. Newport, Maine, the place he proudly calls home, has a population just over 3,100 people. It’s the kind of town where everyone knows everyone, and that small-town atmosphere has provided a grounding balance against the massive attention Flagg now receives on the national stage. For context, Bird’s hometown of French Lick, Indiana, was even smaller, with just over 1,700 residents, yet both towns now share a connection to a basketball prodigy who made it big without losing sight of where he came from.
Despite his rapidly rising fame, Flagg has made it clear that Maine will always be a part of him. Just weeks after becoming the face of the Mavericks’ future, he returned home to attend his old high school’s graduation ceremony. Had Flagg not reclassified and accelerated his basketball career, he would have been walking across that same stage this past June with his classmates. Instead, he watched proudly from the stands, celebrating the milestones of friends he grew up with, a reminder that while his path has been extraordinary, his connection to his peers remains unchanged.
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