Cooper Flagg’s Heartfelt Tribute to His Mom: ‘She’s My Rock, My Biggest and Number 1 Supporter’
There are few moments in an athlete’s life that feel more defining than hearing their name echo through arenas, watching their jersey fly off the shelves, or seeing their face on national broadcasts. But for Cooper Flagg—the Duke basketball phenom widely considered one of the most transcendent talents in recent memory—fame and fortune aren’t the most meaningful parts of his journey. That honor belongs to someone else entirely: his mother.
In a moment of reflection that sent ripples through the basketball world and resonated far beyond it, Flagg opened up about the most important influence in his life: his mom, Kelly. Known for his on-court ferocity and off-court humility, Flagg’s tribute to the woman who raised him, guided him, and believed in him before anyone else did was raw, emotional, and deeply personal.
“She’s my rock,” Flagg said, his voice thick with emotion during an interview following Duke’s practice. “My biggest and number one supporter. I wouldn’t be here without her. Not even close.”
Those words weren’t rehearsed or for show. They came from the heart of an 18-year-old navigating superstardom with an unshakeable anchor at home. While Flagg’s highlights dominate social media feeds and NBA scouts track his every move, he remains grounded in the simple, yet profound, reality that his greatest strength comes from a mother’s love.
Growing up in the small town of Newport, Maine, Flagg wasn’t born into a basketball powerhouse community. He didn’t have access to endless resources or exposure. But what he did have was Kelly Flagg—a former college hooper herself, a tireless motivator, and someone who understood both the physical and emotional demands of the sport.
“She knew what I needed before I even understood it,” Cooper said. “She never pushed too hard, never let up when I needed her. She just always knew. Whether it was helping me shoot after school, staying up to ice my knees, or just letting me cry after a loss—she was there.”
Kelly’s own basketball journey was cut short due to injuries, but she channeled that unfulfilled passion into Cooper’s development—not through pressure, but through patience. She recognized early on that her son was different. He had an instinct for the game that couldn’t be taught. But instead of mapping out his future, she gave him room to grow into it.
Cooper recalls nights spent in the driveway, the crisp Maine air biting at their cheeks, with only the rhythmic bounce of a ball and his mother’s gentle encouragement breaking the silence.
“I’d be out there freezing, trying to get my shot right,” Flagg laughed. “And she’d just be standing there, rebounding, giving tips, telling me to bend my knees more, follow through, don’t short-arm it. And she wasn’t yelling, just always teaching.”
Those memories, Flagg says, are what fuel him today.
As he rose through the high school ranks, eventually transferring to Montverde Academy in Florida to face tougher competition, Kelly remained his constant. The move was difficult. He was 16, away from home, surrounded by elite players from across the country. But his mom’s unwavering support gave him the confidence to step into the unknown.
“I missed home like crazy,” he admitted. “There were nights I’d call her and just vent. I didn’t feel like myself. I was doubting everything. And she’d listen, really listen, then remind me who I was. That’s all I needed—someone to remind me that I was enough.”
Flagg’s freshman season at Duke has been the stuff of legend. His combination of length, skill, and basketball IQ has already drawn comparisons to generational NBA stars. But what separates him isn’t just talent—it’s maturity. It’s grace under pressure. And a lot of that, he says, comes from the way his mom raised him.
“She taught me how to handle the ups and downs,” he said. “She never let me get too high after a win or too low after a loss. She’d say, ‘Just keep your feet on the ground, Coop. The game will love you back if you respect it.’ That’s stuck with me.”
It’s not unusual for athletes to thank their parents. But what makes Flagg’s tribute stand out is its depth. He doesn’t just mention Kelly as a supporter—he sees her as a foundational part of his identity. His respect for her extends beyond mother and son. It’s a friendship, a partnership built on trust and resilience.
“She sacrificed so much for me and my brothers,” Flagg said. “There were times we didn’t have much. But she made sure we had what we needed to chase our dreams. She was up at 5 a.m. driving us to tournaments, sometimes sleeping in the car so we could have a hotel room. Who does that?”
He pauses for a moment, as if letting the memories wash over him.
“She just always gave,” he continued. “And never once asked for anything back.”
Kelly Flagg, by all accounts, has stayed out of the spotlight. She rarely gives interviews, often declining requests in favor of letting Cooper shine. But those close to the family describe her as warm, fiercely protective, and incredibly wise.
“She’s the glue,” one family friend said. “You talk to her for five minutes and realize where Cooper gets his humility.”
That humility has become Flagg’s calling card. Despite the NIL offers, the NBA buzz, and the celebrity status, he still walks around campus like a regular student. He’s respectful. He shows up early to practice. He helps clean up after team dinners. And in a college basketball landscape increasingly shaped by ego and entitlement, Flagg remains refreshingly grounded.
He credits that directly to his mother.
“Before every game, she texts me the same thing: ‘Play hard. Be kind. Be you.’ It might sound simple, but it means everything to me,” he said. “Because I know she’s not just talking about basketball. She’s talking about life.”
The bond between Cooper and Kelly isn’t just about sports. It’s about values. About understanding where you come from. About staying true to the people who lifted you up before the world even knew your name.
When asked what he hopes people take away from his story, Flagg didn’t talk about titles or stats.
“I hope people see how much my mom means to me,” he said. “Because if you have someone in your corner like that—someone who loves you unconditionally—you’re already winning. No matter what the scoreboard says.”
As his journey continues—whether it leads to a national championship at Duke or the NBA stage—Flagg knows he won’t be walking that path alone. Because with every step, every bucket, and every challenge, he’ll carry the strength of the woman who shaped him.
“She’s my why,” he said. “Every time I lace up my shoes, I think about her. Everything I do, it’s for her. Because she believed in me before I believed in myself.”
In the world of sports, greatness is often measured in rings and records. But for Cooper Flagg, true greatness lies in gratitude. And for him, there is no greater honor than paying tribute to the woman who gave him everything—his mom, his rock, his number one supporter.