Cooper Flagg just dropped the ultimate flex. The Dallas Mavericks’ first overall pick revealed he has Jayson Tatum in his contacts, and it’s not just name-dropping. This connection runs deeper than most rookie-veteran relationships, tracing back to their shared Duke roots and Flagg’s childhood admiration for the Boston Celtics star.
What Makes Cooper Flagg’s Connection to Tatum So Special?
Ahead of his highly anticipated clash with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg answered a round of speed questions. He revealed that the most famous person in his contacts was an NBA player he grew up idolizing.
Get to know Coop in 32 seconds before his Summer League debut ⏲️@Cooper_Flagg // #MFFL pic.twitter.com/XFuy2tV90F
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) July 10, 2025
“Jayson Tatum,” the Mavericks rookie revealed, before rapidly moving on to the next question. This answer carries extra weight when you look back at Flagg’s interview with ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt during Draft Night, where he was questioned about what player he grew up watching.
“There’s gonna be a moment when you’re guarding somebody or somebodies guarding you, that might’ve been a poster on your wall when you were a kid, might have been your favorite player. Who’s the guy?” the ESPN interviewer questioned.
The connection between these two players goes beyond simple fandom. Before being drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2017, Tatum was also a Blue Devil, the same as Flagg. He spent a single season in college. He was also named to the All-ACC tournament team in his freshman season, before quickly hitting the NBA, similar to the path the Mavericks’ rookie is now taking.
“That’s a good question. Maybe Jayson Tatum. That’s somebody that I watched a lot at Duke and then watched a lot again as he’s gone on to the Celtics,” Flagg explained during the interview. This makes the fact that he has Tatum in his contacts the ultimate flex.
How Did Tatum Respond to Flagg’s Draft Selection?
Following the 2025 NBA Draft, the former Duke player also took the time to give a shout-out to the number one overall pick. Tatum took to Instagram to show a picture of himself and Flagg following the announcement that he would play for the Mavericks in 2025-26.
This gesture shows the mutual respect between the two Duke alumni. For Flagg, having an established NBA All-Star reach out publicly adds validation to his journey from college standout to professional basketball player.
However, despite a matchup against Tatum being his dream, Flagg will ultimately have to wait. Tatum ruptured his Achilles in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks and will most likely miss the 2025-26 season. A couple of weeks ago, Celtics GM Brad Stevens confirmed that he was “progressing” but not “fully ready”.
According to reports from ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, Tatum underwent surgery the day after his catastrophic injury against the Knicks and has a “long rehab” ahead of him.
“Boston Celtics All-NBA star Jayson Tatum underwent surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon. Catastrophic season-ending injury for one of the NBA’s young faces and the Celtics, with a long rehab awaiting,” Charania revealed.
Despite being unable to fulfill his dream of playing against Tatum in 2025-26, Flagg will be able to say he has an NBA All-Star in his corner as he prepares to make his league debut. Dallas’ clash with the Los Angeles Lakers on day one of the summer league will be one of the tournament’s most highly anticipated matchups, with Flagg set to play his first organized basketball game since Duke’s Final Four loss to Houston.
The chance of an iconic all-Duke matchup between Flagg and Tatum will have to wait, but the foundation for that rivalry is already in place. For now, Flagg can focus on his Summer League debut, knowing he has the support of one of the players he grew up watching.
