As the Dallas Mavericks welcome top draft pick Cooper Flagg, his mother Kelly Flagg is drawing attention for her unique courtside habits. Far from being a passive observer, Kelly‘s superstitions and routines have become a fixture throughout her sons’ basketball journeys.
For Kelly, game day always comes with a set of rituals. During Cooper‘s high school years at Montverde Academy and later at Duke University, she insisted on sitting in the same seat for each game. “They put us in the same seats the first few games, and then they moved us, and Cooper didn’t have his best game. I said, ‘Don’t ever do that again. Put me back,'” Kelly explained. Her persistence paid off, as the school ensured her preferred spot was always reserved.
As the Flagg family transitions to Dallas, Kelly is hopeful that her new seat at the American Airlines Center brings similar good fortune. She is no stranger to adapting; with three sons – Hunter, Ace, and Cooper – she has balanced a busy household centered on sports.
While Cooper is now an NBA rookie, his brothers have also made their mark in athletics. Ace will play for the University of Maine this fall, and Hunter, who Kelly refers to as a “retired athlete,” previously competed as well. Kelly and her husband Ralph, both former basketball players themselves, have long emphasized the value of individual growth for each child. “I’ve always been very intentional about parenting them as individual people who just happen to be born at the same time,” she said.
Balancing Family and New Beginnings
This summer, the Flaggs relocated from Florida to Dallas, a move driven by Cooper‘s NBA debut. Kelly admits the process has been demanding. She credits her partnership with Dr. Scholl‘s for helping her handle the physical challenges of moving, explaining, “If it wasn’t for the insoles, I would not have survived the day.”
Despite the family’s new surroundings, Kelly remains committed to supporting all her children’s ambitions. She describes both Cooper and Ace as highly driven, though their approaches differ. “Their personalities are also very different, even though they’re both driven as far as sports and love the competition of it,” she noted.
Cooper‘s accelerated path to the NBA came after he completed extra coursework to graduate high school early. Maintaining a 4.2 GPA, he balanced his academic and athletic responsibilities, positioning himself for a rapid ascent to professional basketball.
A Foundation of Support and Tradition
As attention turns to Cooper‘s rookie season, the family’s approach remains unchanged. Kelly’s superstitions may draw interest from fans, but for the Flagg family, they are part of a larger commitment to tradition and support.
Whether in Maine or Texas, the Flaggs intend to maintain the routines that have guided them through years of competition. Kelly‘s focus on family unity and individual encouragement continues to play a central role as Cooper steps onto the NBA stage.
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