‘It Would Be Amazing’: Cooper Flagg On Playing For Erik Spoelstra And Team USA At 2028 Olympics
MIAMI — Cooper Flagg said Monday night that he would love to play for Team USA if he is ever asked. He made the comment after scoring 29 points in the Dallas Mavericks’ 113-109 win over the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will coach the U.S. men’s national team at the 2027 FIBA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. USA Basketball named him to succeed Steve Kerr in October 2025.
Flagg was USA Basketball’s male athlete of the year in 2022 after leading the U.S. to gold at the FIBA U17 World Cup. He is 19 and in his second NBA season.
“I mean, I hadn’t really thought about that. Obviously, for me, I’ve played for the country before when I was younger, playing for under-17 teams, stuff like that. So for me, it’s obviously a pleasure to be able to play for my country,” Flagg said. “Any chance I get it, I have no idea what it’s going to look like. It’s a good way down the road.”
“So obviously, if I was ever asked to be able to play for my country, that’s something I would love to do,” Flagg continued. “It would be amazing.”
Cooper Flagg’s History With USA Basketball
In July 2024, before he had played a college game, Flagg joined the U.S. Select Team that scrimmaged the Olympic team during its training camp in Las Vegas. The Olympians won the final scrimmage of his stay 74-73.
He was the first college player invited to the Select Team since 2013, according to The Associated Press. At the time, Flagg told USA Today that joining the 2027 World Cup team was another goal on his list.
Flagg went on to play one season at Duke before Dallas took him No. 1 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft. He won NBA Rookie of the Year last season.
Flagg’s Night Against Erik Spoelstra’s Miami Heat
Flagg returned from a left shoulder injury that kept him out of Saturday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs and finished with 29 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, a career-high 5 steals, and 3 blocks. He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and drove for the clinching layup with 10 seconds left.
Dallas finished 26-56 in Flagg’s rookie season. Mavericks coach Dusty May said Flagg is determined to get the franchise back to playing meaningful games at the right time of year.
“Thing with Coop, he’s trying to win. Last year’s the first year of his life that he hasn’t won big. And he’s determined to get us back to where we’re playing extremely meaningful games at the right time of year,” May said. “And each game matters a lot because the guy’s a winner. You see the plays he makes. He has a different gear. He has a different level of focus and attention. When he needs it, it’s there.”
Dallas (2-2) hosts the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday at American Airlines Center, with tip-off set for 8:30 p.m. CT.
