Jayson Tatum Makes Cooper Flagg Gesture After NBA Draft originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
To no surprise, Duke star Cooper Flagg went first overall in the NBA Draft on Wednesday and was selected by the Dallas Mavericks. Most considered Flagg to be the top prospect in the draft, and the general consensus was that he would go No. 1.
The future is bright for Flagg as he is just 18 years old and has the makings to be a star in the NBA. Additionally, the Mavericks were a Play-In team last season, so there is reason to believe he can help the team contend in the 2025-26 season.
After the draft, Boston Celtics star and fellow Duke alum Jayson Tatum took to Instagram to reshare a picture of himself and Flagg.
Flagg, a Maine native, has cited Tatum as one of the players he models his game after, and he even named him as the player he is most looking forward to going head-to-head against in the league.
“That’s a good question. Maybe Jayson Tatum,” Flagg said about who he is looking forward to facing in the NBA. “That’s somebody that I watched a lot at Duke and then watched a lot again as he went on to the Celtics.”
SVP: “Who’s the guy, Cooper, that you imagine when it hits you at some point next season ‘Oh my gosh, this is my life. This is me.’ Who’s that person?
Cooper Flagg: Jayson Tatum
☘️☘️ pic.twitter.com/ONZhwZvpRl
— 🏆🥇 (@fsh733) June 26, 2025
As it stands, it seems unlikely the newest Maverick will be able to fulfill this dream next season as Tatum is likely to miss the entire campaign due to his Achilles injury. Still, once the Celtics star makes his return to the court, this will be a game worth circling on the calendar for both fanbases.
With Flagg now in Dallas, there is a lot to like about the team’s outlook as they aim to make it back to the playoffs. Ahead of his rookie season, it is clear that he has one big supporter in the league in Tatum, and only time will tell how he fares against him in NBA action down the line.
Related: Cooper Flagg Turns Heads With Jayson Tatum Message After NBA Draft
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.