The NBA draft takes place on Wednesday night, and Cooper Flagg – the phenom out of Maine – is the clearcut, consensus No 1 pick, held by theDallas Mavericks. And it’s not just his game that’s earned him near-universal praise; it’s the way he carries himself.
In his freshman year at Duke, Flagg accomplished something remarkable: he became the first player in the last 25 years to tally 500 points, 100 assists, and 30 blocks in a single ACC regular season. He led the Blue Devils to both the ACC Championship and the Final Four, averaging 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. But stats alone don’t capture the 18-year-old’s impact. He was relentless on both ends of the floor – disruptive with cat-like reflexes, explosive with athleticism, and committed to the little things: diving for loose balls, celebrating teammates, talking trash, flexing after dunks, and scoring from anywhere on the court.
Flagg dominated college basketball and has been universally praised all season, even by those who have historically hated everything Duke.The question is why? Why is Cooper Flagg embraced by all and not hated like most white Duke superstars?
First, it’s worth looking at WNBA phenom Caitlin Clark. There has been speculation that racial animosity and jealousy is at play due to the fact that Clark is excelling in the traditionally Black space of the WNBA. But there seems to be no accusations of backlash, jealousy or animosity against other elite white WNBA players such as Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, Kelsey Plum, Diana Taurasi, Sabrina Ionescu and Paige Bueckers.So what makes Clark different? One could argue it’s less about her race and more about her demeanor. Take, for example, her recent game against the Connecticut Sun. When Jacy Sheldon told Clark, “You can’t do that,” Clark fired back with a defiant stare and snapped, “I can do whatever the [expletive] I wanna do,” before shoving her. She’s also been seen repeatedly yelling at referees – often without receiving a technical.Fox Sports’ Nick Wright put it plainly: she “picks fights, then plays the victim.” Podcaster Trysta Kick said on her show, that it “kind of feels like Caitlin Clark is one more cheap shot away from becoming the villain everyone tried to make her out to be her rookie year. She’s about to become the female Bane”
These sentiments have brought an unfortunate cloud of resentment over the head of an incredibly talented player. Not for her color, but more for her exhibited attitude (in addition to the portion of her fanbase who use her tofurther their own bigotry and racism, something Clarkhas consistently pushed back on).
Flagg, by contrast, has neither been used as a symbol of bigotry and hate, nor has he exhibited any of the on court demeanor of Clark. Even after a questionable over-the-back call against Houston in the Final Four of this year’s NCAA Tournament – a moment that helped end Duke’s season – he didn’t pout or throw a tantrum. Sure, he looked frustrated, but he quickly moved on.This is part of what makes Flagg so admired. He’s not just appreciated across fanbases; he’s practically celebrated – something that’s been historically unthinkable for many white Duke superstars.
That distinction matters. Because very few people hated Duke stars such as Grant Hill, Elton Brand, Nolan Smith, Sheldon Williams, Paolo Banchero, Kyrie Irving, Quinn Cook, Carlos Boozer and Marvin Bagley III. But when it comes to many white Duke stars, the vitriol has been almost a rite of passage.
Let’s look at some of the most well known.
Grayson Allen: The Dirty Player
Allen gained a reputation for cheap shots and dirty play – most notably for tripping opponents multiple times. After each incident, he’d act surprised, as if it were accidental. But the pattern was undeniable. He earned a suspension – and widespread hate.Flagg though? No dirty play. No theatrics. Just hard-nosed basketball.
JJ Redick: The Arrogant SharpshooterRedick, who is now the head coach of the Lakers, was a sniper on the court and a lightning rod off it when he was at Duke. While his shooting wowed fans, his apparent arrogance and media overexposure rubbed many the wrong way. He seemed to enjoy playing the villain – embracing the boos rather than trying to win over the crowd.Flagg, again, is different. Confident but not cocky. Intense but not insufferable.Danny Ferry: The Smug ProdigyFerry was a great player – but also the blueprint for the “rich, smug, entitled Duke kid” archetype. He slapped the floor on defense, barked at refs, and carried the swagger of a country club brat. Think Topper or Rafe from Outer Banks – golf shirts tucked in, collar popped, dripping with entitlement.Flagg? A humble kid from Maine, couldn’t be further from that image.Christian Laettner: The Ultimate VillainLaettner was so hated that ESPNeven made a documentary on the subject. I met Laettner when we became NBA teammates, and the first thing I said to him was that I grew up hating him. He laughed and said, “Yeah, all the brothas hate me.” I said, “No, all jokes aside, I always said if I ever met you, I was going to punch you in the face on sight.” In a flash, he replied: “Well, if you still feel that way after two months, I’ll give you a free shot.”Turns out, Laettner was one of the coolest cats on the team. Later, when we were traded to the Washington Wizards together, his locker was right next to mine and we talked all the time. He was the nicest guy. Got along with everyone in the locker room. Played hard every night. Mentored the young guys. Encouraged young guys who were having a difficult transition to the NBA as many did, including myself.When guys back home asked about who I liked on the team and I would include Laettner, they’d always stop me short.TheChristian Laettner?DukeChristian Laettner? The Preppy, privileged Christian Laettner even white people hate? “Yup,” I would say, “and everything we thought about him all these years is wrong.”But at Duke, he was the perfect villain. On the court,he stomped on Kentucky’s Aminu Timberlakeand got a slap on the wrist. He elbowed, bumped, and jawed his way to villainy – and yet he was never punished. That’s what made him Laettner. He got away with it, like Duke always did, and then had the privilege of hitting the game-winning shot.Flagg though? He’s just not the guy Laettner was perceived to be by many when he was at Duke. He’s not dirty, arrogant, smug or elitist. He doesn’t whine, throw tantrums when he doesn’t get his way, he doesn’t flop, doesn’t bark at refs or exude white privilege. He just hoops. And he respects the game.And when his name is called with the first pick for the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, there will be no hate, no eye rolls, no animosity, no boos, no: “Oh I can’t stand that white boy” there will be nothing but respect, and admiration for the player and the person he is.And that’s not just about stats, that has just as much to do with his personality, his demeanor and how he carries himself.
Etan Thomas played in the NBA from 2000 through 2011. He is a published poet, activist and motivational speaker