Before the bright lights of the NBA Draft, before Cooper Flagg inked his staggering $13.8 million rookie contract with the Dallas Mavericks, and long before his highlight reels captivated scouts across the country, he was just a hardworking kid on a farm in Corinna, Maine. At 11 years old, Flagg wasn’t concerned about his vertical leap or three-point range—he was trying to fill buckets with peas. For every full bucket, he earned a single dollar. That was his introduction to competition, not through jump shots or dunks, but through sweat, soil, and grit at Thunder Road Farm.
Humble Beginnings in Rural Maine
Corinna, Maine, is a quiet town nestled in Penobscot County, population just over 2,000. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows each other, and high school basketball games still fill the bleachers on Friday nights. In that setting, Cooper Flagg was raised alongside his fraternal twin, Ace, and older brother, Hunter, in a family where hard work wasn’t just expected—it was a way of life.
Thunder Road Farm, a local agricultural hub known for its family-friendly atmosphere and seasonal produce, became a proving ground for the Flagg boys. Cooper, Ace, and Hunter were hired to pick peas—an arduous task under the summer sun. The payment was modest: $1 for every filled bucket. But to the Flagg brothers, it was more than money. It was a challenge.
“They turned it into a game,” said a family friend familiar with their early years. “Cooper always wanted to fill more buckets than his brothers. He didn’t care about the dollar. He cared about winning.”
The Spark of a Competitive Fire
That competitive spirit, evident even in the pea fields, would later manifest on basketball courts across the nation. But the drive was the same. Whether he was racing to pick peas or chasing down a fast break, Cooper Flagg refused to be outworked.
“There was something about him even then,” recalled the farm owner at Thunder Road. “Most kids would lose focus or get bored. Not Cooper. He’d turn everything into a competition. Who could fill the most buckets? Who could get it done fastest? It wasn’t about the reward. It was about proving something.”
That mentality carried over into his basketball training. Even as a young teen, Flagg approached the game with the same relentless energy he displayed on the farm. Long hours in the gym were never a burden. They were an opportunity—to compete, to improve, to win.
The Rise of a Prodigy
By the time Flagg was in middle school, it was clear he wasn’t just a hardworking kid—he was a phenom in the making. Standing head and shoulders above his peers, with a wingspan and skill set years beyond his age, Flagg became a national name while still playing high school basketball in Maine.
In his freshman year at Nokomis Regional High School, Flagg averaged 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. His performances were electrifying, and scouts began to take notice. However, those close to him say his work ethic never changed.
“He approached every practice like it was Game 7,” said his former coach. “That’s the farm kid in him. That’s where it started.”
When Flagg transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida—a renowned basketball powerhouse—it was a major step up in competition. But it didn’t rattle him. In fact, it fueled him.
“He thrived in that environment because he was already conditioned to work harder than everyone else,” said Montverde head coach Kevin Boyle. “He had that Maine toughness. That farm-boy grit.”
Draft Night Dreams Come True
On June 26, 2025, Flagg’s journey from Corinna to the NBA culminated when the Dallas Mavericks selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft. It was a moment decades in the making, celebrated not only in Dallas but also back home in Maine.
His rookie contract was staggering—$13.8 million in the first year alone, with guaranteed earnings that would make any athlete envious. But those who know him best say the money hasn’t changed him.
“Cooper’s still the same kid who used to race his brothers to fill pea buckets,” said his mother, Kelly Flagg. “That work ethic—that sense of accountability—is something we drilled into our boys early.”
Life Lessons from the Farm
So what did Flagg take away from those long, sweaty summers at Thunder Road Farm?
Patience. Persistence. Perspective.
“It taught me that nothing comes easy,” Flagg said in a recent interview. “You can’t skip steps. Whether it’s filling a bucket of peas or mastering a crossover, you’ve got to do the work.”
That lesson has served him well. In his first NBA Summer League outing, Flagg posted 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks, showing flashes of the dominant two-way player many experts expect him to become. Analysts praised his motor and instincts—but it’s his demeanor that truly sets him apart.
“He’s got a blue-collar mentality in a league that doesn’t always value that anymore,” said former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy. “That comes from somewhere real. That’s not something you can fake.”
A Beacon for Small-Town Kids Everywhere
Flagg’s journey isn’t just inspiring for basketball fans—it’s a blueprint for any young person from a small town with big dreams. In an age dominated by social media and hype, his story stands out as one built on quiet consistency and real-world values.
“Cooper makes kids believe that they don’t have to be from a big city or go viral to make it,” said Maine basketball historian Bob Sinclair. “They just have to work hard—and keep working.”
Indeed, the Thunder Road Farm has now become a point of pilgrimage for young basketball fans in Maine. Some bring pea buckets. Others just come to take photos in front of the rows where Flagg once toiled. It’s not glamorous, but that’s the point.
The Importance of Family
A critical part of Flagg’s journey has been his family. His twin brother Ace has been by his side every step of the way. While Cooper pursued basketball superstardom, Ace excelled in his own right and was a vital grounding force.
“Having Ace with me through all of this kept me humble,” Cooper said. “He knows me better than anyone. He’s not afraid to check me when I get too full of myself.”
Their older brother Hunter, too, played an important role, especially during those early days in the fields. The three brothers formed a unit defined by loyalty and fierce competitiveness.
“It wasn’t just basketball that made Cooper,” said a former coach. “It was his family. That’s his foundation.”
What Comes Next
Now on the grand stage of the NBA, Flagg faces a new set of challenges. Opponents are bigger, faster, and stronger. The pressure is immense. The expectations even higher. But those who’ve followed him from the beginning aren’t concerned.
“If you’ve ever seen him on that farm, you wouldn’t bet against him,” said Thunder Road’s owner. “That kid doesn’t know how to quit.”
As Flagg begins his rookie season with the Mavericks, his goals remain grounded.
“I want to earn it,” he said. “I don’t want anything handed to me just because I was a top pick. I want to work. I want to win.”
It’s a mindset forged in dirt and sweat, not spotlight and fame.
Closing Thoughts
Cooper Flagg’s journey is the stuff of sports legends: a small-town boy from rural Maine, who learned the value of hard work picking peas, rising to become one of the NBA’s most exciting young stars. But what makes his story resonate isn’t just his talent—it’s his roots.
In an era where shortcuts and spectacle often overshadow substance, Flagg stands as a reminder that greatness is built, not given. That the strongest foundations are laid not in arenas but in fields. And that sometimes, the most promising NBA stars begin their climb not with a slam dunk—but with a dollar-a-bucket job under the hot summer sun.
