Kelly Flagg, mother of Duke basketball star and projected No. 1 NBA draft pick Cooper Flagg, has had a whirlwind of a year — one filled with travel, emotion, and unwavering support. Between Cooper’s games at Duke and her other son Ace’s high school games at Greensboro Day School, Kelly attended around 80 basketball games during the 2024–25 season, missing only nine.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Kelly opened up about her experience as a basketball mom and her connection to the Duke community, which made her son’s decision to leave for the NBA even more emotional. Representing Dr. Scholl’s, she highlighted how tightly knit the Blue Devils families were this season, especially the mothers, who kept in close contact through a group chat.
“The Duke family is very strong,” she said. “Saying goodbye to Duke meant saying goodbye to great people and families we really connected with. That made Cooper’s decision much harder.”
She also recalled the moment Cooper injured his ankle during the ACC Tournament — a scare that nearly sidelined him from the NCAA Tournament. Luckily, he recovered in time to help lead Duke to the Final Four. Through it all, Kelly found comfort knowing the Duke family had her back.
As Cooper prepares for the NBA, the Flagg family is adjusting to a new chapter. The NBA Draft Lottery, set for May 12, will reveal which team might land Cooper. Meanwhile, Ace is preparing to begin his college career at the University of Maine.
“It’s surreal,” Kelly admitted. “Everything has happened so fast. I haven’t even fully processed it all.”
Despite the changes ahead, one thing remains certain — her loyalty to Duke. Kelly has already told Duke head coach Jon Scheyer and GM Rachel Baker to save her a seat at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
“I’ll be back,” she said. “I say I gave birth to three, but I’m a mom to many.”
