The Boston Celtics will face Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg for the first time on Tuesday night.
Flagg spent a season playing college basketball at Duke, a program also known for producing Celtics star Jayson Tatum. Flagg took a moment to express his gratitude to Tatum for the guidance he provided during the early stages of his career.
“He’s somebody that’s reached out to me and been there to give me advice, Flagg said on Tuesday. “He kind of followed a similar path to me, so you know he’s been there.”
Dallas selected Flagg with the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. While Tatum wasn’t the top pick, the Celtics chose him at No. 3 during the 2017 draft.
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Tatum knows what it’s like to be a highly drafted player from Duke stepping into the NBA with the pressure to make an immediate impact. He arrived in a city that demands its basketball team consistently compete at a championship level. In contrast, Flagg joined a team that had recently traded away one of the NBA’s best players, Luka Dončić. Mavericks fans are pinning their hopes on Flagg as their new savior now that Dončić is no longer in Dallas.
Tatum is still sidelined with a torn Achilles, but when he eventually returns — possibly next season — a matchup between Flagg and Tatum will be a must-watch on TV.
Featured image via David Banks/Imagn Images
