March Madness: Duke’s Cooper Flagg receives praise from NBA Star
Boston Celtics And the former Duke Jayson Totum star praised the current Duke Cooper Flagg star.
“The first impression I had of Coop was what he played, as he competed,” said Tatum, 27 years old, during a recent appearance “New heights. ”
“At high school, it is rare to see a boy who wants to protect the other best player, trying to block every shot, bouncing. And play only in the right way”,
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The Duke Blue Devils Cooper Flagg (2) striker crushes the ball during the first half against the Baylor Bears in the second round of a game of the NCAA tournament at the Lenovo Center on March 23, 2025. (Zachary TAFT/IMAGN images)
Celtics star said he saw Flagg playing for the first time during his summer field two years ago.
“He has a great feeling for the game. He knows how to set a screen. He knows how to cut. He likes to involve his teammates, and has been on display throughout the season and a great reason why they have the opportunity to win a championship,” Tatum said.
Flagg was the catalyst of A Duke Team This is 33-3 and in the dessert 16.
The Star Freshman was an all-American consensus during the 2024-25 campaign and is the favorite to win the player of the year after having an average of 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 stolen and 1.3 blocks per game.
The striker Duke Blue Devils Cooper Flagg (2) controls the ball while the Baylor Bears Norchad Omier’s striker (15) defends during the second half in the second round of the NCAA tournament at the Lenovo Center on March 23, 2025. (Zachary TAFT/IMAGN images)
However, Flagg suffered an ankle injury in Duke’s victory Georgia Tech In the quarter -finals of the ACC tournament and lost the rest of the acc. Duke has still prevailed to win it.
Flagg returned from the injury in Duke 93-49’s dominant victory over the number 16 of the number 16 and played 22 minutes, scoring 14 points and recording seven rebounds, five assists and a block.
In the round of 32, Flagg played 29 minutes in Duke’s 89-66 victory on Baylor. Flagg had 18 points, nine rebounds, six assists and a block in victory.
Duke will rely on Flagg in the Sweet 16, where the face of blue devils N. Arizona with 4 seeds Thursday at 9:40 pm et.
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The Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum (0) striker turns beyond the guard of sacrament Kings Kings Keon Ellis (23) in the second quarter at the Golden 1 Center on March 24, 2025. (Images of Edmondson/Image)
Tatum, who played Duke for a season in 2016-2017, was unable to win a title in his only year of university basketball.
The native of St. Louis scored on average 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 stolen and 1.1 blocks per game in 29 games. Tatum was the total number 3 of the Celtics in the Bozza NBA 2017.
Tatum has spent all eight seasons of his NBA career The Celtics, The All-Star team has been appointed six times and has been a key gear in the race to the Celtics title last season.
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