A little playful banter in Durham? That seems to be the case between Duke forward Cooper Flagg and head coach Jon Scheyer.
During an appearance on The Brotherhood Podcast, hosted by Justin Robinson, Scheyer couldn’t help but chuckle when Flagg’s name came up.
“We’re going to kick things off with someone you know very well—Cooper Flagg,” Robinson said. “He sent in a question: How amazing was it to coach Cooper Flagg?”
Scheyer didn’t miss a beat, responding with a grin,
“I wasn’t expecting to be getting questions from Cooper when we said we’d do this. I don’t know how amazing I want to say it was… but it was amazing beating him in horse every day after practice.”
The jab was all in good fun, highlighting the strong connection the two built over the course of the season.
Scheyer quickly turned sincere.
“Cooper was incredible this year,” he said. “He showed up every single day with the right attitude, brought great energy, and was an outstanding teammate. What he did on the court speaks for itself.”
Under Scheyer’s leadership, Flagg helped lead Duke to a Final Four appearance before falling to the eventual runner-up, the Houston Cougars.
Despite the loss, Flagg—who entered the season as the No. 1 overall recruit—put together one of the most remarkable freshman years in recent memory. He led the Blue Devils in five major statistical categories and helped carry the program back into national relevance. Even beyond the numbers, it was his demeanor and maturity that stood out.
“Cooper, you’re a great big guy,” Scheyer said with a smile. “Loved coaching you, man.”
The playful exchange gave fans a rare peek into the tight-knit locker room culture at Duke. Flagg certainly left his mark in Durham—one that was both deeply professional and unmistakably personal.
Now, the next chapter awaits, as the 18-year-old phenom heads into the 2025 NBA Draft as the consensus No. 1 pick.