Durham, NC – A longtime Duke Blue Devils fan reportedly collapsed in shock Tuesday morning after learning that freshman phenom Cooper Flagg is declaring for the NBA Draft after just one season with the team.
Eighty-three-year-old Martha Reynolds, known around her Durham neighborhood as “Mama Blue,” was watching a local sports segment during breakfast when the breaking news flashed across the screen.
“She just clutched her chest and said, ‘Not my Cooper… not yet!’” said her granddaughter, who was visiting at the time. “We thought she was joking—but then she actually fell back on the couch.”
Paramedics were called, but thankfully, Mama Blue is doing fine. Doctors say it was a mix of surprise, emotion, and what they jokingly called “basketball heartbreak syndrome.”
A season ticket holder since 1971, Reynolds has followed every Duke team faithfully, even naming her dog “Krzyzewski.” She became a huge fan of Flagg the moment he stepped on the court.
“He had heart, he had hustle, and that floppy hair,” she said from her hospital bed. “I was just hoping for one more year. Is that too much for an old woman to ask?”
Despite the scare, Mama Blue says she’ll be watching every second of Flagg’s NBA career.
“He’s got my blessing,” she said, smiling. “But I’m keeping my blood pressure pills nearby during draft night.”
