Celtics star Jayson Tatum has high praise for Duke's Cooper Flagg: 'Plays the right way'

Boston Celtics and erstwhile Duke prima Jayson Tatum had precocious praise for existent Duke prima Cooper Flagg.

"The archetypal content I had of Coop was conscionable however hard helium played, however helium competed," Tatum, 27, said during a caller quality connected "New Heights." 

"In precocious school, it’s uncommon to spot a feline that wants to defender the different champion player, trying to artifact each shot, rebounding. And helium conscionable plays the close way," 

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Duke Blue Devils guardant Cooper Flagg (2) dunks the shot during the archetypal fractional against the Baylor Bears successful the 2nd circular of an NCAA Tournament crippled astatine Lenovo Center March 23, 2025. (Zachary Taft/Imagn Images)

The Celtics prima said helium archetypal saw Flagg play during his summertime campy 2 years ago. 

"He has a large consciousness for the game. He knows however to acceptable a screen. He knows erstwhile to cut. He likes to get his teammates involved, and it’s been connected afloat show each play and a large crushed wherefore they person a accidental to triumph a championship," Tatum said.

Flagg has been the catalyst of a Duke squad that is 33-3 and successful the Sweet 16. 

The prima freshman was a statement All-American during the 2024-25 run and is the favourite to triumph Player of the Year aft averaging 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. 

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Duke Blue Devils guardant Cooper Flagg (2) controls the shot arsenic Baylor Bears guardant Norchad Omier (15) defends during the 2nd fractional successful the 2nd circular of the NCAA Tournament astatine Lenovo Center March 23, 2025. (Zachary Taft/Imagn Images)

However, Flagg sustained an ankle wounded successful Duke’s triumph implicit Georgia Tech successful the ACC tourney quarterfinals and missed the remainder of the ACC tournament. Duke inactive prevailed to triumph it.

Flagg returned from the wounded successful Duke’s ascendant 93-49 triumph implicit No. 16-seeded Mount St. Mary's and played 22 minutes, scoring 14 points and registering 7 rebounds, 5 assists and a block. 

In the circular of 32, Flagg played 29 minutes successful Duke’s 89-66 triumph implicit Baylor. Flagg had 18 points, 9 rebounds, six assists and 1 artifact successful the win. 

Duke volition trust connected Flagg successful the Sweet 16, wherever the Blue Devils look No. 4-seeded Arizona Thursday astatine 9:40 p.m. ET.

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Boston Celtics guardant Jayson Tatum (0) spins past Sacramento Kings defender Keon Ellis (23) successful the 2nd 4th astatine the Golden 1 Center March 24, 2025.  (Edmondson/Imagn Images)

Tatum, who played astatine Duke for 1 play successful 2016-2017, was incapable to triumph a rubric successful his lone twelvemonth of assemblage basketball. 

The St. Louis autochthonal averaged 16.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per crippled successful 29 games. Tatum was the No. 3 wide prime by the Celtics successful the 2017 NBA Draft. 

Tatum has spent each 8 seasons of his NBA vocation with the Celtics, has been named to the All-Star squad six times and was a cardinal cog successful the Celtics' rubric tally past season. 

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