Cooper Flagg, one of the biggest stars of March Madness, had his eyes set on the NBA just 24 hours before Duke’s dramatic loss to Houston.
The Duke Blue Devils were left heartbroken after squandering a 14-point lead in the second half, losing their shot at the championship game.
Flagg’s Dream to Play in the NBA
As the No. 1 overall pick contender for this year’s NBA Draft, Flagg’s future in professional basketball seemed certain.
Ahead of the Final Four clash, he shared his excitement about the possibility of joining the NBA.
“It would be a blessing for me to get drafted by any team in the NBA,” Flagg said in an interview. “That’s a dream of mine, to play in the NBA.
I would feel completely blessed and honored to play for any team.”
A Tough Loss in the Final Four
However, Flagg’s dream wasn’t realized in the way he had hoped. After Duke’s dramatic collapse against Houston on Saturday night, the Blue Devils’ hopes of a title were dashed.
Despite his strong performance during the tournament, Flagg found himself in a tough spot at the end of the game.
With mere seconds left, he had the chance to send Duke into the title game but missed a go-ahead fadeaway jumper that fell short. “It’s the play coach drew up,” Flagg explained.
“Took it into the paint. Thought I got my feet set, rose up. Left it short obviously. A shot I’m willing to live with in that scenario. I trust the work I’ve put in.”
Controversial Calls and Blame Game
Despite his heroic efforts, controversy swirled around the game’s closing moments.
A late foul call on Flagg sparked outrage among Duke fans, who felt the referees had unfairly impacted the game’s outcome. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy quickly weighed in, criticizing the Blue Devils and their supporters for blaming the loss on the officiating.
“Duke fans complaining about this foul call are babies,” Portnoy wrote. “You blew it. You couldn’t inbound the ball. You dribbled it off your leg.
A million chances to seal it and you’re gonna blame the ref? Loser talk from losers.”
Looking Ahead to the NBA
Despite the heartbreaking defeat, Flagg remains focused on his NBA future.
With his talent and determination, it’s only a matter of time before he takes the next step in his career.
For now, he’ll have to put the painful loss behind him as he prepares for the next phase of his basketball journey.
